How many health inspections has EL LOCAL had?

EL LOCAL has had 29 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.

Has EL LOCAL ever been shut down?

No, EL LOCAL has no emergency closures on record.

What are the most common violations at EL LOCAL?

The most frequently cited violations at EL LOCAL are: Proper ventilation, Proper hand/arm washing, Proper sewage disposal.

What does Florida violation V02 (Employee health policy) mean?

DISEASE TRANSMISSION: Without a written employee health policy, sick food workers transmit Norovirus (20 million US cases/year), Hepatitis A (causes liver failure), Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7. CDC estimates 40% of restaurant outbreaks involve ill food workers. A single infected employee can contaminate food for thousands of customers. Maintain written employee health policy addressing: reporting of symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever), diagnosed illnesses (Norovirus, Hepatitis A, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli), exclusion and restriction criteria, and return-to-work requirements. Train all employees on policy at hiring and annually.

What does Florida violation V08 (Proper hand/arm washing) mean?

TECHNIQUE FAILURE: Improper handwashing technique leaves pathogens on hands even when a handwashing attempt is made. Studies show 95% of people wash hands incorrectly — most don't scrub for 20 seconds or miss fingertips, thumbs, and between fingers. Incomplete washing creates a false sense of security while still transferring E. coli, Norovirus, and Salmonella to food. Correct technique requires: wet hands with clean warm water, apply soap, lather and scrub for 20+ seconds covering all surfaces including fingertips/nails/between fingers/back of hands, rinse thoroughly, dry with single-use towel. Use towel to turn off faucet. Do NOT use hand sanitizer as substitute for handwashing.

What does Florida violation V10 (Approved food source) mean?

UNSAFE FOOD SOURCE: Food from unapproved sources bypasses USDA/FDA safety inspections, potentially harboring Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, parasites, or chemical contaminants. Uninspected meat may contain antibiotics, hormones, or prions (mad cow disease). Home-canned foods risk deadly Clostridium botulinum toxin. Wild-harvested shellfish may contain paralytic toxins. All food must come from approved, inspected sources. Maintain supplier documentation and invoices. Shellfish must have proper tags retained for 90 days. No home-prepared, home-canned, or uninspected foods. Wild game must be commercially processed. Verify supplier licenses and inspection status.

EL LOCAL

18911 S TAMIAMI TRAIL UNIT 17, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Lee County · Permanent Food Service · Owner: EL LOCAL LLC · License: SEA4603527

EL LOCAL in Fort Myers, FL has 29 inspections on record with 179 total violations (6.2 per inspection) and 0 emergency closures.

29Inspections

179Violations

0Closures

Data current as of November 22, 2024

Inspection History (29)

Nov 22, 2024 — Routine - Food· 7 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Sep 3, 2024 — Routine - Food· 9 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Feb 22, 2024 — Routine - Food· 9 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

Dec 20, 2023 — Routine - Food· 6 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Apr 6, 2023 — Routine - Food· 9 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

V11 Food in good condition

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

Dec 20, 2022 — Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Oct 18, 2022 — Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Extension given, pending

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Aug 9, 2022 — Routine - Food· 9 violations · Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Feb 3, 2022 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V38 Waste properly disposed

Sep 11, 2020 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Sep 10, 2020 — Routine - Food· 17 violations (5 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V10 Approved food source

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Jun 15, 2020 — Routine - Food· 17 violations (4 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V22 Consumer advisory

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jan 31, 2020 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Jan 30, 2020 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 10 violations (1 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Apr 2, 2019 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V22 Consumer advisory

Nov 15, 2018 — Complaint Full· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

Nov 9, 2018 — Complaint Full· 10 violations (2 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V13 Parasite destruction

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Oct 26, 2018 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 0 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Jan 18, 2018 — Complaint Full· 0 violations · Admin. Complaint Callback Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Oct 12, 2017 — Complaint Full· 2 violations · Call Back - Complied

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Oct 11, 2017 — Complaint Full· 0 violations · Admin. Complaint Callback Not Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Oct 11, 2017 — Complaint Full· 6 violations (1 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V42 Equipment condition

Jul 6, 2017 — Complaint Full· 3 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

Basic Violations

V48 Food storage

V53 Outer openings protected

May 4, 2017 — Complaint Full· 10 violations · Call Back - Extension given, pending

High Priority Violations

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V48 Food storage

V53 Outer openings protected

May 2, 2017 — Complaint Full· 24 violations (4 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V03 Employee health reporting

V06 Handwashing facilities

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V48 Food storage

V53 Outer openings protected

Dec 14, 2016 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 4 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Dec 13, 2016 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 9 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Dec 13, 2016 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Nov 28, 2016 — Routine - Food· 8 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V12 Shell stock requirements

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

V53 Outer openings protected

How Does This Facility Compare?

EL LOCAL has had 0 emergency closures, compared to the Lee County average of 0.07 closures per facility. It has averaged 6.2 violations per inspection vs. the county average of 2.72.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many health inspections has EL LOCAL had?: EL LOCAL has had 29 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.
Has EL LOCAL ever been shut down?: No, EL LOCAL has no emergency closures on record.
What are the most common violations at EL LOCAL?: The most frequently cited violations at EL LOCAL are: Proper ventilation, Proper hand/arm washing, Proper sewage disposal.

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Editorial Standards & Data Oversight

Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.

Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, using professional regulatory data auditing protocols.

Last verified: November 22, 2024 | Our methodology | Editorial standards | Report an error

This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with EL LOCAL.