A Chinese restaurant in southwest Ocala was temporarily closed after a health inspector cited the business for several code violations, including the presence of a live squirrel and rodent droppings.
China King, which is located at 9590 SW State Road 200 #9 in the Oakridge Plaza, failed the health inspection on Wednesday, February 4.
According to a report filed with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, during the inspection, at least a dozen different code violations were noted.
The most significant high-priority violation involved a live squirrel. The inspector noted that the squirrel was sitting on top of an air duct above a dry storage closet in the back of the kitchen.
In addition to the live animal, the inspector documented seven rodent droppings on the premises. Five droppings were found on the floor of the dry storage room where canned goods and single-service items are kept, and two additional droppings were located beneath a reach-in freezer.
The restaurant faced several other high-priority and intermediate citations, including chicken and egg rolls held on the cook line without proper time markings and ready-to-eat foods like cooked chicken, beef, and shrimp in the walk-in cooler lacking proper date markings.
Additionally, a handwash sink was being used to store steel wool, and the business could not provide proof of required state-approved food safety training for half of its staff.
According to the FDBPR, the restaurant was permitted to reopen on Thursday, February 12.