FDACS Citation 3-501.15(A): Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective

Overview

FDACS citation 3-501.15(A) (Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective) is a Priority Foundation violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code, with 33 citations in the past 12 months across 230 Florida facilities. Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures.

Sourced from Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present.

Priority FoundationPriority Level
Ch. 3Food
33Citations (12 mo)
243Total Citations
230Facilities Cited

Citation 3-501.15(A) — Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective — is classified as a priority foundation violation under Florida FDACS inspection standards in the Food chapter.

What the Code Says

3-501.15(A) — Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective

Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective
methods based on the type of food being cooled.

— FDA Food Code / Florida FDACS Inspection Standards (FAC 5K-4)

Priority Classification

Priority Foundation (Pf): Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures.

Florida FDACS uses the FDA Food Code priority system — Priority (P) violations have a direct link to foodborne illness; Priority Foundation (Pf) violations support food safety systems; Core (C) violations are good retail practices with no direct illness link.

Citations by County

Florida counties with the most 3-501.15(A) citations
CountyCitations
Miami-Dade14
St. Johns11
Pinellas10
Volusia7
Palm Beach7
Seminole5

Most Cited Facilities

Florida FDACS facilities most cited for 3-501.15(A)
FacilityCityTimes CitedLast Cited
Gonzalez Bakery & Meat Groveland 3 Dec 18, 2025
Key Food Supermarket Apopka 3 Apr 2, 2025
Blessing Bakery Orlando 2 Aug 1, 2025
Supermercados El Bodegon Grocery Greenacres 2 Dec 17, 2024
Vw Diaz Supermarket 1 Naranja 2 Apr 12, 2023
Taqueria Dos Hermanos Gibsonton 1 Mar 27, 2026
International Food Club LLC Orlando 1 Mar 24, 2026
Lorenzo Ruiz Cruz Distribution Tampa 1 Mar 19, 2026

Recent Inspector Observations

Taqueria Dos Hermanos, Gibsonton—

Kitchen: Large plastic buckets of sauces with the lid put on it, is trying to be cooled in the walk-in cooler. Cooling methods were reviewed with management.

International Food Club LLC, Orlando—

Kitchen Area: Large Gyro cone was placed in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid to cool over night in the reach-in cooler. Gyro cooling practices were discussed with cook. COS: Gyro cone was voluntarily discarded due to citation #18.

Lorenzo Ruiz Cruz Distribution, Tampa—

Kitchen area: Cooked chicken placed in deep tightly covered container for cooling not cooled to 41 F within 6 hours. Cooling methods reviewed with person in charge.

La Estancia Aventura, Aventura—

Backroom: Beef cooling from earlier in the day in large covered containers. COS Beef was placed in shallow pans and uncovered.

Taco Madre LLC, Plant City—

Processing area: Plastic containers and large of tomatoes and beans are trying to be cooled in the walk-in cooler. Cooling methods were reviewed with the owner and employees.

Siberian Food, Hallandale Beach—

Food service: chicken cooling in tightly packed plate. Salad cooling in the display cooler covered. COS all items uncovered and spread out.

Frequently Cited Alongside 3-501.15(A)

6-501.11

Physical facilities not maintained in good repair

196 co-citations

3-501.16(A)(2)

Cold held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 41°F or below

151 co-citations

2-501.11

Establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when

134 co-citations

3-501.16(A)(1)

Hot held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 135°F or above,

127 co-citations

3-501.14(A)

Cooked time/temperature control for safety food not cooled within 2 hours from

121 co-citations

2-103.11(A)-(N)

A pattern of non-compliance is demonstrated with regard to the duties of the person

118 co-citations

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDACS citation code 3-501.15(A)?
FDACS citation 3-501.15(A) (Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective) is a Priority Foundation violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code. Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective methods based on the type of food being cooled.
How serious is FDACS violation 3-501.15(A) (Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective)?
Priority Foundation (Pf): Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures. This code has been cited 243 times across 230 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 3-501.15(A)?
FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 3-501.15(A) (Cooling of time/temperature control for safety food not accomplished by effective) has been cited at 230 such facilities across Florida, with 33 citations in the past 12 months.
What does a Priority Foundation FDACS violation mean?
A Priority Foundation FDACS violation means: Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures. FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) uses this classification system — Priority (P), Priority Foundation (Pf), and Core (C) — aligned with the FDA Food Code.

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