Another Florida Closed for 24 Violations

Photo byEl Palacios de los Frijoles

Location: 1736 West 68th Street, Hialeah
Date Ordered Shut: August 13, 2024

El Palacios de los Frijoles, located in Hialeah, has been closed down following an inspection that revealed 24 serious violations impacting food safety and sanitation.

Key Violations:

• Inadequate Cold Holding: The establishment lacks sufficient refrigeration units to maintain time/temperature control for safety food at proper temperatures. Multiple cold holding units were observed with inadequate temperatures, including a reach-in cooler with an ambient temperature of 55°F and several food items stored at unsafe temperatures, such as chimichurri at 72°F and pork chop at 60°F.
• Temperature Abuse: Several food items were found to be held at temperatures above the safe limit of 41°F. This includes food in both the reach-in cooler and walk-in cooler. For example, soups with pork were at 95°F, and marinated chicken was at 57°F, indicating significant temperature abuse.
• Cold Holding Equipment Maintenance: The walk-in cooler and reach-in cooler were not functioning properly, with ambient temperatures of 53°F and 55°F, respectively. The equipment is currently not suitable for storing time/temperature control for safety food until repairs are made.
• Improper Food Storage: Raw beef was stored above plantains in the walk-in cooler, and various food items were found stored on the floor, including crates of vegetables.
• Sanitation Issues: Nonfood-contact surfaces, such as the hood system above the fryer and stove, were observed to be soiled with grease and food debris. Additionally, food-contact surfaces like cutting boards were found dirty and covered in food debris.

The cafeteria will remained closed until all violations were corrected and the establishment complied with health and safety standards.