, FL. Raw shell eggs were stored directly above juices inside a reach-in cooler at Dollar Tree #08013 when a state inspector arrived on September 4, 2026, a configuration that creates a direct contamination risk if an egg cracks or leaks onto the drinks below.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection of the store, classified as a Minor Outlet with Perishables, turned up seven total violations. One was a priority violation, the most serious category in the state's grading system. None were marked as repeat violations from a prior visit.
What Inspectors Found
The priority violation, raw animal food stored above ready-to-eat products, was corrected during the inspection. According to the inspector's notes, "eggs were moved to appropriate location during the inspection." The eggs had been sitting directly above juices, not separated by a shelf or barrier.
The store also lacked written procedures for responding to vomiting or diarrheal events on the premises, a Priority Foundation violation. The inspector noted that "the establishment does not have a policy in place for proper response to vomit or diarrheal events" and provided guidance via email during the visit.
Beyond those two findings, the inspector cited four basic violations. The certified food protection manager certificate was expired. A handwashing sign was missing at the sink inside the employee restroom in the backroom. Outdoors, the dumpster lid was not closed at the time of the visit. And in the backroom, the mop sink was blocked by a trash can, mops and other cleaning items.
What These Violations Mean
The raw egg storage violation is the kind of finding that can turn a routine grocery trip into a food safety incident. Raw shell eggs carry Salmonella on their surfaces. When stored above open or loosely sealed beverages, a cracked shell, a dripping carton or simple condensation can transfer bacteria directly onto products a shopper picks up and drinks without any cooking step in between.
The missing vomit and diarrheal event policy is a less visible but serious gap. Norovirus, one of the most common foodborne illness agents, spreads rapidly through contaminated surfaces. Without a written cleanup procedure, employees who encounter such an event in the retail area have no protocol for containing contamination, choosing the right disinfectants or protecting themselves and other customers. The inspector provided written guidance by email, but the store did not have a plan in place when the inspection began.
The expired food protection manager certificate matters because that certification is the primary credential ensuring at least one person on staff has formal training in food safety principles, including temperature control, cross-contamination and illness response. When that certificate lapses, there is no documented assurance that current staff have received that training.
The blocked mop sink is a sanitation infrastructure problem. A mop sink that cannot be accessed easily is a mop sink that does not get used properly, which means contaminated cleaning water has fewer compliant disposal options.
The Longer Record
The data provided for this inspection does not include a prior inspection count for Dollar Tree #08013, which limits the ability to place September's findings in a longer historical context. What the record does show is that none of the seven violations cited on September 4 were flagged as repeats, meaning the inspector did not find documented evidence of the same specific violations from a previous visit to this location.
The store met sanitation requirements overall, which is the outcome recorded for this inspection despite the seven violations. Under the FDACS system, a facility can meet requirements while still accumulating violations, particularly when priority violations are corrected on site, as the egg storage issue was here.
That said, five of the seven violations from September 4 were not corrected during the inspection itself. The expired food manager certificate, the missing handwashing sign, the uncovered dumpster and the blocked mop sink all remained unresolved when the inspector left. The vomit and diarrheal event policy gap was addressed only in the sense that the inspector emailed guidance, not that a written policy was confirmed to be in place before the visit ended.
What Remains Unresolved
The egg storage problem was fixed on the spot. Everything else was not.
Five violations, including an expired food safety certification and no written emergency cleanup procedures, left the store without a confirmed resolution date in the inspection record. Whether those issues were addressed in the days following the September 4 visit is not reflected in the data available.
The store's certified food protection manager certificate was expired at the time of the inspection.
