Multiple dining hotspots have been slapped with emergency closures following a wave of pest-related health violations. Among the afflicted is the historic Blue Anchor pub in Delray Beach, gripped by a rodent infestation so severe it prompted a temporary shutdown order last Thursday, BocaNewsNow.com reports. Inspectors uncovered a staggering litany of violations including, but not limited to, approximately 300 rodent droppings in dry storage areas contaminating napkins and cutlery, various food safety missteps showcasing a blatant disregard for basic hygiene protocols, and critical lapses in proper food storage temperatures.
The situation extends beyond Delray, with a total of 12 establishments across Palm Beach and Broward counties grappling with comparable crises over the week ending yesterday, as per details from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Notably, the Blue Anchor remains in limbo without a specific reopening time, meanwhile, the others, some struck by the presence of roaches or flies alongside rodents, managed to scramble towards reinstatement—some encouraging news in a spate of unsettling reports, the Boca Post divulged.
In the broader scope, inspectors had their hands full, with a total of 701 food-service evaluations conducted throughout the district. The resulting flurry of inspection activity uncovered more than 400 instances of high-priority violations which ranged from dire temperature control deficiencies to the horrifying discovery of pests and dire sanitation missteps, putting a pressing spotlights on the need for more stringent compliance with health standards across the board…