, FL. Chemicals were stored directly above children's food items on the retail shelves at Rightway Foods when a state inspector walked through the store in September, one of 11 violations documented during a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection on September 24, 2026.
The inspector noted the chemicals were shelved above kids' food items and required staff to relocate the children's products before leaving. That single finding, classified as a priority violation, was the most serious of the day.
What Inspectors Found
Beyond the chemical storage finding, inspectors documented a series of problems in the store's backroom. The hot water valve at the handwashing sink had been turned off entirely. The inspector noted that the person in charge turned the valve back on during the visit.
A cart was blocking access to that same handwashing sink, which inspectors also flagged as a priority foundation violation. The cart was moved during the inspection.
In the retail area, cartons of raw shell eggs were sitting on the floor of the walk-in cooler rather than stored at least six inches above it. Staff relocated the eggs while the inspector was present.
Inspectors also found that pre-packaged Kool-Aid Jammers in the walk-in cooler were not labeled for individual sale as required. The inspector noted they "were relocated to be sold behind the counter" during the visit.
Mold-like debris was observed on the plastic display rack inside the open-air cooler. That finding was not marked as corrected on site.
Handwashing Sink Problems, Doubled
The inspection turned up a specific and somewhat contradictory pair of handwashing violations. There was no handwashing sign posted at the sink in either restroom, but a handwashing sign and soap dispenser had been placed at the three-compartment sink, which is used for washing utensils and food prep equipment, not for hand hygiene.
The inspector required staff to remove the sign and dispenser from the three-compartment sink and post proper signage at the actual handwashing sinks. Both were addressed during the inspection.
The store also lacked written procedures for employees to follow in the event of a vomiting or diarrheal incident. The inspector provided a guidance handout during the visit.
What These Violations Mean
The chemical storage finding is the kind of violation that carries immediate contamination risk for shoppers. Storing toxic or poisonous materials above food items, particularly food marketed to children, creates a direct pathway for chemical contamination if a container leaks, tips, or is knocked from the shelf. State rules require that chemicals for retail sale be stored and displayed in a way that prevents that risk.
The hot water shutoff at the handwashing sink is a concern that compounds quickly. Effective handwashing requires water at a minimum temperature, and a valve that has been turned off is not a maintenance problem, it is a choice. Without functional access to hot water, employees handling food, packaging, and surfaces cannot wash their hands properly.
The missing backflow prevention device on the mop sink is a plumbing issue that did not get corrected during the inspection. A backflow preventer stops contaminated water, including wastewater from mopping, from flowing back into the potable water supply. Without one, there is a pathway for contamination that persists after the inspector leaves.
The absence of written vomit and diarrhea cleanup procedures may seem administrative, but it is a direct food safety protocol. When a contamination event happens without a written plan, employees improvise, and improvised cleanup of norovirus or similar pathogens in a retail food environment can spread illness to other surfaces, products, and customers.
The Longer Record
The data provided for this inspection does not include a prior inspection count for Rightway Foods, which limits the ability to place September's findings in a longer pattern. What the record does show is that the store met sanitation inspection requirements on September 24, meaning the visit did not result in a stop-sale order or emergency closure despite the 11 violations documented.
None of the 11 violations were marked as repeat findings, which means inspectors had not flagged the same problems in a previous visit on record. That is a different story than a facility cycling through the same citations year after year, but it does not change what was found this time.
The mold-like debris on the open-air cooler display rack and the missing backflow prevention device on the mop sink were not corrected before the inspector left.
