POPS SOUTHERN BUFFET LLC
909 N SR 19 · PALATKA · Putnam County · FL 32177
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
18 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 6
09-01-4High Priority – Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands – food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Operator used barehand contact on ice in bulk ice bin, operator scooped and discarded ice from top layer of the ice bin. **Corrective Action Taken**
08A-04-5High Priority – Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In the walk in cooler raw shrimp over unwashed onion and raw catfish over unwashed lemons. Operator rearranged. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-01-4High Priority – Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Hot and cold sides of the buffet line missing sneeze guards. **Warning**
01B-13-4High Priority – Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Operator used barehand contact on ice in bulk ice bin, operator scooped and discarded ice from top layer of the ice bin. On can rack, one can of Hunts Ketchup with dented side affecting seal. Operator removed to be discarded.
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On the cook line, hush puppy mix (72F – Cold Holding) sitting in bowl on top of ice, operator added additional ice and submerged deeper into ice, at conclusion of inspection second temperature (59F – Cold Handing)
41-10-4High Priority – Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottles stored on shelf of waitstation over hot sauce bottles. Operator relocated. **Corrected On-Site**
Intermediate 5
02C-03-5Intermediate – Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. In reach in cooler milk from day before missing product date marking. Operator removed to have employee date mark. **Corrective Action Taken**
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No papertowels at hand wash sink for dishwashing area. Operator provided paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
51-16-7Intermediate – No plan review submitted and approved – renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Dishmachine added, not updated on plans. **Warning**
53B-09-4Intermediate – Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Two photocopies of employee food handler training.
41-17-4Intermediate – Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Chemical spray bottle of degreaser missing product labeling on dish machine. **Repeat Violation**
Basic 7
36-34-5Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Kitchen ceiling vents with dust build up. **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4Basic – Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table by rear exterior door.
40-06-5Basic – Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employees apron and bags over crock pots on shelf by rear exterior door. Operator relocated the personal items. **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. On the storage shelf opposite the dishwashing area, clean containers stacked while wet.
14-69-4Basic – Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Chest freezer with ice build up along the seal.
42-01-4Basic – Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop head stored in mop sink.
21-12-4Basic – Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth on top of reach in freezer.
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 11, 2026 12:30 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
Inspection records and inspector observations reflect conditions documented by DBPR at the time of the inspection and may not reflect current conditions.