TAMPA, FL. Back in March 2026, state inspectors walked into Protein Monkey, a specialty food and supplement shop in Tampa, and found an unlabeled hand sanitizer dispenser sitting directly beside plastic utensils and napkins available to customers.
That finding, a chemical container not identified by its common name, was not the first time inspectors had flagged the same problem at this location. Records show it was a repeat violation, meaning the same category of issue had been documented during a prior inspection.
What Inspectors Found
The March 24 inspection recorded 7 total violations. None were classified as priority violations, but two fell into the priority foundation category, which covers procedural and equipment requirements that underpin safe food handling.
The unlabeled chemical finding drew the most direct language in the inspector's notes. The report stated: "Retail Area: Hand sanitizer dispenser near plastic utensils and napkins not labeled with common name." The inspector noted it was corrected on site, with the chemical labeled before the inspection concluded.
The second priority foundation citation involved the absence of a probe thermometer. The inspector wrote: "Retail Area: Establishment does not have a probe thermometer." The inspector added that no temperature violations were observed during the visit, but the absence of a thermometer means the shop lacked the basic tool required to verify that any temperature-sensitive products were being stored safely.
Among the remaining five basic violations, plastic forks and spoons were found sitting in an open cup in the retail area, not inverted or individually packaged. The inspector noted this left them exposed to possible consumer contamination.
The restroom had no employee handwashing sign posted at the sink, and the restroom door was not self-closing. A food employee in the food service area was observed wearing a wrist watch. The shop's 2026 food permit was not on display, though the inspector confirmed it was active.
What These Violations Mean
The repeat citation for an unlabeled chemical container is the kind of finding that carries real consequence in a retail food environment. When a chemical, even a common one like hand sanitizer, is not labeled, anyone working in the shop cannot immediately identify what it is or how it should be handled. Placed next to single-use utensils and napkins that customers will touch, an unlabeled chemical container creates a direct opportunity for cross-contamination if the product is mishandled or mistaken for something else.
The missing probe thermometer matters in a different way. Protein Monkey sells specialty food products, and any establishment handling temperature-sensitive goods needs a functioning thermometer to verify storage conditions. Without one, there is no way to confirm that products requiring refrigeration or temperature control are being held at safe levels. The inspector noted no temperature violations during this visit, but the absence of the tool means the shop was operating without a basic safeguard.
Loose utensils sitting open in a cup on the retail counter may seem minor, but it is a direct contamination pathway. Customers browsing the store pass by, and any contact with the handle end of a fork or spoon that later touches someone's mouth is a hygiene failure the shop can prevent simply by inverting the utensils or packaging them individually.
The restroom door that does not self-close is a structural issue. Self-closing doors are required to prevent airborne contaminants from moving between the restroom and food preparation or retail areas. It is a basic requirement, and it was unresolved at the time of inspection.
The Repeat Violation
The unlabeled chemical citation carries a repeat designation, which means state inspectors had documented the same class of violation at Protein Monkey before this March visit. A repeat finding on a priority foundation violation is a signal that the corrective action taken after the prior inspection did not hold. The hand sanitizer dispenser was labeled during the March 24 visit, but it had apparently gone unlabeled again between inspections.
Repeat violations in the same category tell a specific story. A first-time citation can reflect an oversight. A repeat citation reflects a gap in whatever system the shop uses to maintain compliance between inspections.
The Longer Record
The March 2026 inspection ended with a result of "Met Sanitation Inspection Requirements," meaning Protein Monkey passed despite the seven violations documented. None of the seven violations were corrected on site during the inspection, with the exception of the chemical labeling and the handwash sign, both of which the inspector noted were addressed before leaving.
The shop's permit was confirmed active. But the repeat designation on the chemical storage citation, combined with the absence of a probe thermometer and the open utensil storage, points to a retail operation where some basic compliance habits had not been consistently maintained.
The restroom door, noted as not self-closing, was not among the violations corrected during the inspection.