Inspectors temporarily close Bradenton cafe with rodent issues for second time in months

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues.

The reports are public information.

During recent inspections, a breakfast and lunch restaurant in Bradenton was temporarily shut down for the second time this year after inspectors once again found signs of rodent activity. The business was temporarily closed in January after inspectors found rodent droppings in and around food and an unreported case of Hepatitis A among the restaurant’s staff.

Sage Biscuit Cafe, 6656 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected and temporarily shut down March 18

• High priority: An inspector observed rodent droppings in several food storage and preparation areas. The inspector’s report noted approximately 10 droppings under a dry storage rack, five droppings around ice machines, five droppings between a wall and a reach-in cooler on the cook line and 10 droppings on the floor between a dish rack and a reach-in cooler.
• Intermediate: There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for sanitizer buckets.
• Basic: An inspector noted 10 basic violations, including walls soiled with grease, standing water in a reach-in cooler, damaged cutting boards and rust on food storage shelves.
• The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on March 19 and was allowed to reopen.
  
  

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 at www.myfloridalicense.com.