How many health inspections has EMPANADAS EXPRESS had?

EMPANADAS EXPRESS has had 24 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.

Has EMPANADAS EXPRESS ever been shut down?

Yes, EMPANADAS EXPRESS has been shut down 1 time by state inspectors.

What are the most common violations at EMPANADAS EXPRESS?

The most frequently cited violations at EMPANADAS EXPRESS are: Food contact surfaces, Employee health policy, Approved food source.

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 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.

What does Florida violation V14 (Food contact surfaces) mean?

CROSS-CONTAMINATION: Improperly cleaned food contact surfaces are a primary vehicle for bacterial transfer. Cutting boards can harbor 200x more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat. Biofilms form on surfaces within 24 hours, protecting Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli from routine cleaning. One contaminated surface can transfer pathogens to dozens of food items throughout the day. Clean and sanitize ALL food contact surfaces: after each use, between different food types (especially raw meat to ready-to-eat), every 4 hours during continuous use, and when contaminated. Use proper sanitizer concentration: chlorine 50-100 ppm, quaternary ammonium 200-400 ppm. Air dry — do not towel dry. Test sanitizer concentration every 2 hours.

EMPANADAS EXPRESS

6571 102 AVE N, Pinellas Park, FL 33782

Pinellas County · Permanent Food Service · Owner: EMPANET LLC · License: SEA6213837

EMPANADAS EXPRESS in Pinellas Park, FL has 24 inspections on record with 188 total violations (7.8 per inspection) and 1 emergency closure.

24Inspections

188Violations

1Closures

Data current as of February 21, 2025

Emergency Closures (1)

Emergency closure history for EMPANADAS EXPRESS
Date	Reason	Reopened
Sep 28, 2021	Sewage back up	13:37:00

Inspection History (24)

Feb 21, 2025 — Routine - Food· 5 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Feb 20, 2025 — Routine - Food· 11 violations (1 high priority)· Warning Issued

Sep 18, 2024 — Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

Sep 10, 2024 — Routine - Food· 6 violations · Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V23 Chemical properly stored

May 2, 2024 — Routine - Food· 7 violations · Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

Apr 2, 2024 — Routine - Food· 8 violations · Call Back - Extension given, pending

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Jan 31, 2024 — Routine - Food· 17 violations (2 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V38 Waste properly disposed

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Jul 13, 2023 — Routine - Food· 13 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

V38 Waste properly disposed

Nov 18, 2022 — Routine - Food· 13 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V06 Handwashing facilities

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

Nov 8, 2022 — Routine - Food· 23 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V06 Handwashing facilities

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V24 Toxic substance control

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

Mar 17, 2022 — Routine - Food· 13 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Sep 29, 2021 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Emergency Order Callback Complied

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Sep 28, 2021 — Routine - Food· 11 violations (2 high priority)· Emergency order recommended

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

V28 Water supply

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Mar 23, 2021 — Routine - Food· 8 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Oct 1, 2020 — Routine - Food· 8 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V22 Consumer advisory

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V41 Toilet facilities

Jul 14, 2020 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

May 12, 2020 — Routine - Food· 7 violations · Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V11 Food in good condition

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

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

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

Intermediate Violations

V41 Toilet facilities

Jan 23, 2019 — Routine - Food· 7 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

V22 Consumer advisory

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Aug 21, 2018 — Routine - Food· 4 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V35 Single-use items

Mar 22, 2018 — Routine - Food· 6 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V06 Handwashing facilities

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V41 Toilet facilities

Oct 18, 2017 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V10 Approved food source

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Apr 6, 2017 — Routine - Food· 6 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Sep 23, 2016 — Routine - Food· 6 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

How Does This Facility Compare?

EMPANADAS EXPRESS has had 1 emergency closures, compared to the Pinellas County average of 0.27 closures per facility. It has averaged 7.8 violations per inspection vs. the county average of 4.56.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many health inspections has EMPANADAS EXPRESS had?: EMPANADAS EXPRESS has had 24 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.
Has EMPANADAS EXPRESS ever been shut down?: Yes, EMPANADAS EXPRESS has been shut down 1 time by state inspectors.
What are the most common violations at EMPANADAS EXPRESS?: The most frequently cited violations at EMPANADAS EXPRESS are: Food contact surfaces, Employee health policy, Approved food source.

Nearby Establishments

LE CREME DELIGHT

6501 102 AVE N STE 10361, Pinellas Park

1 inspections · 2 violations

Last inspected: Jul 17, 2024

CHINA GARDEN

10391 66TH ST N, Pinellas Park

28 inspections · 325 violations

Last inspected: Feb 20, 2025

ASTRO SKATING CENTER P P

10001 66 ST N, Pinellas Park

16 inspections · 115 violations · 1 closures

Last inspected: Jun 5, 2025

YOUR MOTHERS BACKYARD SANDWICHES

10555 66 ST N, Pinellas Park

22 inspections · 129 violations

Last inspected: Mar 19, 2025

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: February 21, 2025 | Our methodology | Editorial standards | Report an error

This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with EMPANADAS EXPRESS.