Rodent Infestation Leads to Serious Shutdown Orders at Florida Food Warehouse

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Ever thought about what might be lurking in your pantry? Well, if you’re at the Restaurant Depot Jetro Cash & Carry in Miami, you might not want to think too hard. State inspectors recently uncovered some unsettling issues at their warehouse, including rodents making themselves at home in Quaker oatmeal and turning the area behind Pedigree dog food into a mess.

The Florida Department of Agriculture took immediate action, issuing a flurry of Stop Use and Stop Sale Orders after their inspection revealed conditions that were far from acceptable. According to the inspectors, the cleanliness reported the day before was nothing like what they found on their visit. Rodent droppings were spotted all over the facility, suggesting a serious lapse in sanitation.

It’s important to note that this was the Restaurant Depot located at 2041 NW 12th Ave., just north of Jackson Memorial Hospital. This isn’t the same as the Medley location, which had its own problems last December with animal droppings on a large amount of salt and sugar.

Although inspectors Fausto Ferrer and Araceli Harvie can’t close the facility down completely, they can shut down specific areas and equipment. Here’s what they found and the actions they took:

• Stop Sale Orders: Affected products include 12 packages of 32-ounce Quaker oatmeal, a 25-pound bag of Pedigree dog food, 12 packs of 5-pound Jim Dandy grits, and two 50-pound bags of Riceland extra long grain rice.
• Stop Use Orders: These were issued for the back export area, the entire west wall of the customer area, and several aisles.

Some additional findings from the inspection included:

• A dirty ice machine chute in the seafood area.
• Gaps under three bay doors leading to the export food storage, which could let in pests.
• Open rodent bait found near Daisy brand baked goods.
• Dead rodents discovered on glue boards and on the north wall where dog food was stored.
• Rodent droppings on various food pallets, including those for oatmeal, cornmeal, and rice.

In summary, the inspection revealed some serious issues that raise red flags about food safety and hygiene at this location. It’s a reminder of the importance of keeping food storage areas clean and well-maintained to ensure the safety of what we eat.