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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Health inspector forces Ocala buffet eatery to shut doors over roach and pesticide issues

A popular chain buffet restaurant in Ocala was shut down recently following the lunch rush after a health inspector cited 12 violations – the most egregious of which dealt with roaches and powder pesticide used inside the eatery.

A health inspector recently ordered the Golden Corral in Ocala, located at 2111 SW College Rd., to close after finding 12 violations in the eatery.

The inspector on June 20 visited Golden Corral in Ocala, located at 2111 SW College Rd. and reported three high-priority violations:

  • 15 live roaches near the buffet areas, with eight located near the pie display;
  • An issue with a powder pesticide that was under the buffet lines and in electrical components; and
  • An employee wiping his hands on his clothes and continuing to stir food without washing his hands, according to a report on file with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The inspector also cited the restaurant with one intermediate violation for an accumulation of food debris/grease in the interior of a reach-in cooler near fryers. And eight basic violations were found, which included:

  • 55 dead roaches found throughout the restaurant;
  • A buildup of food debris, dust or dirt on exterior shelves in the kitchen containing dishes and dry storage items, as well as in front of the pie display in the dessert area;
  • Plastic pans on a clean dish rack not property air-dried;
  • Standing water on the floor in several areas throughout the kitchen;
  • A large area of ice buildup inside a walk-in freezer;
  • Old food stuck on large plastic pans at a clean dish shelf;
  • Cases of cheese and pepperoni uncovered in a walk-in freezer and a pitcher of tea near a cash register at the front counter with no lid; and
  • Water standing under a triple sink and inside a walk-in cooler.

The inspector returned later that day and found 10 violations that hadn’t been taken care of. The restaurant remained closed and the inspector returned three times the following day before finally allowing the eatery to reopen at 12:14 p.m.