KFC in Clearwater, FL was cited for 10 violations prompt shutdown in Pinellas County: Reopens

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The KFC located in Clearwater, Florida, recently reopened following an emergency closure instigated by a state inspection that revealed a series of troublesome violations.

A complaint inspection conducted by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation on August 15, 2024, identified a total of 10 infractions, which included four high-priority problems requiring immediate action at the 1648 S Missouri Ave location in Pinellas County.

Thankfully, a follow-up inspection on August 16 confirmed that this KFC met health and safety standards, with three violations discovered.

What The Inspection Revealed:

The August 15 inspection cataloged the issues as follows: four high-priority violations, which typically pose noteworthy issues to public health, along with six basic violations deemed less severe but still concerning.

Among the most pressing issues were numerous live insects, including nine small flying insects in essential food preparation areas and a concerning number of flies throughout the establishment.

The inspector's note revealed the discovery of 25 live flies in the dining area and 103 dead flies on a window sill. When water was used in the dishwashing area, sewage backed up through floor drains.

Basic violations included missing floor tiles, gaps in exterior doors, and a non-working mop sink. The women's restroom was under repair with the toilet removed. Unplesant odors were also noted in the back kitchen areas.

However, once these violations were addressed and KFC's management demonstrated compliance, the Pinellas County restaurant was able to resume operations.

This Clearwater establishment holds a moderate Google rating of 3.4 stars based on 817 reviews, which reflects a mixed level of satisfaction from the local patrons.

A customer named Omran Chehab shared on Google Reviews:

Terrible customer service chicken was dry at this location and all staff that was working on July 14th at 9:55pm needs to be fired rude people speaking to you on the mic taking your order while they are oustide hitting a vape.

NOTE: Please note that an inspection report, per the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, provides a snapshot of the conditions observed during the inspection