Eight Central Florida Restaurants Shut Down Amid Health Scares!

7338 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida, USA - In a startling revelation, Click Orlando reports that eight restaurants in Central Florida recently found themselves on the wrong side of health inspections, leading to their forced closure. Amidst alarming findings—ranging from live roaches to improper food storage—these establishments were ordered to shut their doors, highlighting serious health concerns and prompting discussions about food safety in the region.

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired. The health violations were severe enough to raise eyebrows and, no doubt, concerns among local patrons. The shutdowns occurred between July 7 and July 13, with two establishments already allowed to reopen while one chose to close its doors permanently.

Details of the Closures

The affected restaurants paint a troubling picture. In Daytona Beach, the Holiday Inn Daytona Beach faced issues such as undercooked salmon and live roaches spotted during multiple inspections. As for Lakeland’s Egg Factory of South Lakeland, its sticky traps revealed a worrying reality: two live roaches and around 20 rodent droppings were found in the dining area. The problems continued in Ocala, where El Ranchito Food Market had sewage flowing behind the restaurant, among other improper practices.

Orlando’s Crazy Buffet and Judy’s Diner also found themselves on the inspection radar, with 10 live roaches reported at Crazy Buffet alone. Other violations included unwashed hands by employees and pest droppings in Judy’s Diner. Over in Ormond Beach and Winter Park, establishments like Imli Indian Kitchen and Bar and Prato also contended with various violations, from rodent droppings to small flying insects.

• Closed Restaurants List:
  • Daytona Beach: Holiday Inn Daytona Beach
  • Lakeland: Egg Factory of South Lakeland
  • Ocala: El Ranchito Food Market
  • Orlando: Crazy Buffet, Judy’s Diner
  • Ormond Beach: Imli Indian Kitchen and Bar
  • Winter Park: Prato

The Importance of Food Safety Inspections

This unfortunate situation brings to light the pivotal role that inspections play in maintaining the safety of food service establishments. According to Florida Health, the inspections are conducted at the County Health Department level, ensuring that food service establishments comply with health regulations. These evaluations can either be routine or in response to complaints, and they often come unannounced.

Results from inspections aren’t just a formality—they can vary from satisfactory to unsatisfactory based on the findings at the time of the inspection. Repeated issues can escalate to enforcement actions, leaving establishments to either correct their violations or face potential closures. It’s essential to remember that good hand hygiene is cited as a leading cause of foodborne outbreaks in the state.

What Next?

As Central Florida grapples with these concerning violations, the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants continues to monitor establishments closely. They stress that each inspection reflects a snapshot of conditions at that moment in time, indicating that restaurants must remain vigilant. If impending inspections discover ongoing issues, establishments could face significant consequences, including emergency closures or licensing complications.

In summary, these closures serve as a crucial reminder of the need for stringent adherence to food safety regulations. As diners, we must remain ever-aware of the conditions surrounding our meals, ensuring that our beloved local eateries maintain the standards they should. Remember, a healthy dining experience is a happy dining experience!