Dirty dining: Moldy food, unsafe meat storage and other issues at Bradenton area restaurants

Restaurants in Manatee County have reopened for dine-in service, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants has resumed routine inspections for public health and cleanliness issues.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, restaurants were cited for issues that include unsafe meat storage and moldy food and equipment.

Here is what inspectors found.

Salem’s Fresh Eats, 5635 14th St. W., Bradenton

• An inspector observed spicy marinara sauce with a mold-like growth in a walk-in cooler. A stop sale was issued and the sauce was discarded.
• Vanilla ice cream mix was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees in a soft serve dispenser at the front counter. A restaurant operator said that the mix had been held in the unit overnight, and no temperatures had been recorded for the mix in the restaurant’s log. A stop sale was issued and the restaurant operator discarded the mix.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade. Corrective action was taken.
• There was water pooled on the floor in front of a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
• Hood filters on the cook line were soiled.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

China King, 6816 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Raw animal foods with different minimum cooking temperatures were stored together. A tray of raw chicken was stored over raw beef and imitation crab. Corrective action was taken.
• Chicken quarters, fried chicken and dumpling were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The items had been held overnight. A stop sale was issued and the foods were discarded.
• A refrigerator did not have a conspicuously-located ambient air temperature thermometer.
• Cardboard was used to line shelving in contact with food.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

Sam’s Seafood & Grill, 3108 First St., Bradenton

• Raw chicken was stored over cooked chicken wings in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
• An ice chute on a self-service drink machine was soiled with mold-like substance/slime.
• A spray bottle was blocking access to an employee handwash sink.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade. Corrective action was taken.
• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.
• An employee without a hair restraint was preparing food. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Chen’s Gourmet Chinese Restaurant, 6086 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Raw shell eggs were stored over unwashed zucchini and green peppers in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
• Fried chicken was sitting out at ambient temperature next to a fryer. A restaurant operator moved it to a reach-in cooler.
• The restaurant’s probe thermometers were not calibrated properly.
• An inspector observed raw chicken thawing in still water at a three-compartment sink. A restaurant operator moved the chicken to a walk-in cooler.
• Raw chicken and beef were stored on a walk-in freezer floor. Corrective action was taken.
• Cardboard was used to line food-contact shelves in a dry storage area.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Editor’s Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a “snapshot” of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and “high-risk” establishments tend to be inspected more frequently.

When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed here.