URGENT UPDATE: Five restaurants in Central Florida have been shut down due to serious health code violations, according to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The closures occurred during the week of February 15-21, 2023, raising immediate concerns about public safety and food hygiene.
Orange Taiwan Express in Orlando, located at 3601 Columbia St., was closed on February 17 after inspectors identified a staggering 20 violations, including high-priority issues related to rodent activity. A follow-up inspection on February 20 revealed 12 violations, but no high-priority issues, allowing the restaurant to reopen after meeting health standards.
Another Orlando establishment, China Garden, at 2550 W. Colonial Dr., faced shutdown on February 19 due to 24 violations, including three high-priority concerns: roach activity, improper food storage, and the use of nonfood-grade bags for food. Subsequent inspections noted 22 violations remained, yet the restaurant was allowed to continue operations after receiving time extensions for remediation.
The Chimi Spot, located at 3900 S. Goldenrod Road in Orlando, shut down on February 20 due to 11 violations, with three classified as high priority, including raw food cross-contamination and rodent nesting materials. An inspection the following day noted seven violations, but the establishment has since reopened, posing no immediate threat to public health.
In Satellite Beach, Brevard Alin’s Thai Street Food faced closure on February 19 after inspectors found nine violations, with one high-priority issue involving over 103 rat droppings. A follow-up inspection on February 29 reported six violations, but no rodent droppings were observed, allowing the restaurant to meet health standards.
Finally, PizzaVola CB at 5240 N. Atlantic Ave. #150 in Cocoa Beach was shut down on February 17 due to 16 violations, including severe issues like sewage backup and food temperature abuse. A rapid inspection on February 18 found zero violations, leading to its reopening.
Across Central Florida, inspectors reported a total of 2,605 violations during this period, with Orange County leading at 1,135 violations. Other counties reported Brevard (395), Osceola (351), Volusia (295), Lake (272), and Seminole (157) violations.
Public health officials urge residents to stay informed about these developments as they highlight the critical importance of food safety standards. Share this urgent news to keep your community aware of local health risks.