FORT MYERS, FL. Inspectors flagged food from unapproved or unknown sources at six Fort Myers restaurants in a single week, a violation that means product bypassed federal safety inspections entirely before reaching customers' plates.
The finding was among the most serious documented during the week of April 18 through April 24, 2026, when state inspectors cited 15 local restaurants for high-severity violations. Two of those restaurants also failed to follow parasite destruction procedures, a lapse that can leave fish, pork, and other proteins carrying live parasites when served.
What Inspectors Found
High-Severity Violations by Restaurant, April 18-24, 2026
China Fusion on Paul J. Doherty Parkway drew the highest single-facility count of the week, with 8 high-severity violations. Inspectors cited the restaurant for having no employee health policy, employees not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and failure to properly use time as a public health control. The restaurant has 27 prior inspections on record.
Ichibian Food Inc on Broadway logged 7 high-severity violations, including food from an unapproved or unknown source alongside the same cluster of handwashing, illness reporting, and sanitization failures. That facility carries 30 prior inspections on record.
El Patio on Cleveland Avenue also received 7 high-severity citations, including unapproved food sources, employees not reporting illness symptoms, and improper time control for public health. Inspectors have visited that address 34 times previously.
Edison's Lab at the Holiday Inn on Cleveland Avenue drew 7 high-severity violations as well, including food from an unapproved source, food in poor condition or adulterated, and food not cooked to the required minimum temperature. Undercooked food is among the most direct pathways for Salmonella and other pathogens to reach a customer. That location has 44 prior inspections on record, the deepest history of any facility cited this week.
Shellfish, Parasites, and Sourcing Failures
Three restaurants were cited specifically for inadequate shell stock identification or records, a traceability requirement that exists because shellfish consumed raw or lightly cooked carry elevated illness risk and must be traceable to their harvest source.
El Gaucho Inca on Colonial Boulevard was among them, and inspectors also documented food contaminated by chemical, physical, or biological hazards at that location. A person in charge was not present or not performing duties during the inspection. The restaurant has 27 prior inspections on record.
Dona Juana Guatemalan Restaurant on Palm Beach Boulevard was cited for inadequate shell stock records, food from an unapproved source, failure to follow parasite destruction procedures, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and improper time control. That facility has 18 prior inspections on record.
European American Bakery Cafe on Metro Parkway was also cited for failing to follow parasite destruction procedures, alongside food not cooked to the required minimum temperature and no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods. Inspectors additionally noted improper handwashing technique and employees not reporting illness symptoms.
A Pattern Across the Week
The most consistent finding across all 15 facilities was the absence of a written employee health policy. Eleven of the 15 restaurants were cited for having no such policy or an inadequate one. Without a written policy, sick food workers have no formal instruction to stay home or report symptoms, a gap inspectors flagged as a direct disease transmission risk.
Mr. Tequila Mexican Restaurant on Colonial Boulevard had no person in charge present, inadequate handwashing facilities, improper handwashing technique, food from an unapproved source, and inadequate shell stock records. That restaurant has only 4 prior inspections on record.
Pickle and Pub Restaurant on Old McGregor Boulevard was cited for unapproved food sources, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, improper time control, no employee health policy, and employees not reporting illness symptoms.
Friend's Pizza on Colonial Boulevard drew a citation for toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled near food, alongside food not cooked to the required minimum temperature and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items.
Veranda on 2nd Street, one of Fort Myers's more established addresses with 19 prior inspections on record, was cited for food in poor condition or adulterated, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, no employee health policy, and no person in charge performing duties during the visit.
Jalapeno's on Cleveland Avenue, which carries 34 prior inspections, was cited for inadequate cooling and cold holding equipment, meaning the physical infrastructure to keep food at safe temperatures was itself found deficient.