Sanford — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
Sanford, Florida has 290 food establishments with 3,918 inspections on record. 4 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 93%, above the state average of 86.2%. Inspections average 5.8 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Mel's Family Diner in Sanford on March 3, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated April 2026.
Sanford Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Sanford
93%
Pass Rate
93%
Florida Average
86.2%
Pass Rate
86.2%
Sanford
5.8
Avg Violations / Inspection
5.8
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Sanford
1.38
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.38
Florida Average
1.46
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.46
Sanford Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupusas & Burritos Grill | 1 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Pdq Restaurant - Sanford, Fl | 2 | Call Back - Complied | |
| H&m Restaurant | 6 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens | 16 (4 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Ciros Ny Pizza | 13 (4 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Pdq Restaurant - Sanford, Fl | 9 (2 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Cheddar's Casual Cafe | 8 (1 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Springhill Suites Sanford | 6 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Jersey Mike's | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Bliss Bistro and Social | 10 | Warning Issued |
Sanford Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 1,427 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 1,231 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 1,179 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 929 |
| 29 | Proper sewage disposal | 690 |
Sanford Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2026 | Mel's Family Diner | $800 | 4--2025069811 |
| Nov 24, 2025 | 5th Element Indian Restaurant | $800 | 4--2025064334 |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Just Food 5059 | $400 | 4--2025064839 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Casa China | $300 | 4--2025075544 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Buster's Bistro | $300 | 4--2025073654 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | Mel's Family Diner | $240 | 4--2024072475 |
| Oct 6, 2025 | Mel's Family Diner | $240 | 4--2025038371 |
| May 19, 2025 | China II | $200 | 4--2025035989 |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Subway #851 | $200 | 4--2025060866 |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Soul Wingz Catering | $200 | 4--2026012219 |
Sanford Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Other fire safety violation | 58 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 42 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 23 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 11 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 8 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 7 |
Sanford Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records
In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Sanford has 96 FDACS-regulated facilities with 219 inspections on record and 34 stop-sale orders issued.
Sanford FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders
A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.
| Date | Facility | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-eleven-29920a-341374 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Utensils, Equipment and Vending: Fo… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… | |
| Sams-club-4785-414119 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… |
Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →
Sanford FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations
Browse all FDACS violation codes →
Sanford Retail Food Chains (FDACS)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | 4 | 84 | 2,423 |
| Circle K | 3 | 108 | 1,668 |
| Winn-Dixie | 2 | 212 | 797 |
| Bimbo Bakeries | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Charleys Philly Steaks | 1 | 12 | 102 |
| Dollar Tree | 1 | 9 | 1,110 |
| Planet Smoothie | 1 | 8 | 179 |
| Sams Club | 1 | 23 | 284 |
Sanford: Notable Restaurants
Sake House
49 inspections
430 violations
4 closures
Casa China
27 inspections
327 violations
3 closures
Le's Pho
28 inspections
243 violations
2 closures
Ichigo Ichie Buffet
46 inspections
737 violations
1 closures
La Mexicana #7 Restaurant
46 inspections
468 violations
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
20 inspections
126 violations
Sanford: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 4 | 253 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 3 | 221 | 0 |
| Dominos | 3 | 93 | 0 |
| Burger King | 3 | 283 | 0 |
| Chipotle | 3 | 91 | 0 |
| Kfc | 2 | 99 | 0 |
| Wingstop | 2 | 162 | 0 |
| Popeyes | 2 | 158 | 0 |
| Chick-fil-a | 2 | 133 | 0 |
| Ihop | 2 | 337 | 1 |
Sanford Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sanford?
- Sanford, Florida has 290 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Sanford?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Sanford is 93%. The Florida state average is 86.2%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Sanford this year?
- 4 food establishments in Sanford have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Sanford?
- The most frequently cited violations in Sanford are: Proper ventilation, Chemical properly stored, Food contact surfaces.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Sanford?
- Subway has the most locations in Sanford with 4 establishments.
- How does Sanford compare to the Florida state average?
- Sanford has a pass rate of 93%, which is 6.8 percentage points above the state average of 86.2%. The average violations per inspection is 5.8 compared to the state average of 4.67.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Sanford?
- Food establishments in Sanford have an average of 13.5 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Sanford been assessed?
- Food establishments in Sanford have been assessed $25,385 in fines across 81 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $330 and the largest single fine was $1,200.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Sanford restaurants?
- 149 fire safety violations have been documented across 62 food establishments in Sanford. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.
- Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Sanford inspected?
- Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Sanford, Florida has 96 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 219 inspections on record.
- How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Sanford?
- FDACS has issued 34 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Sanford, including 1 in 2026. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.
Sanford Restaurants & Food Establishments (283)
Ace Cafe Sanford
115 N LAUREL AVE, Sanford
2 inspections · 11 violations · Last: Feb 2026Sal's Italian Ice and Ice Cream
2521 S FRENCH AVE, Sanford
13 inspections · 11 violations · Last: Jul 2025Subway #33631
4589 ST JOHNS PKWY, Sanford
2 inspections · 10 violations · Last: Jul 2025Chick-fil-a West Sanford
267 HIGH WATER LN, Sanford
3 inspections · 10 violations · Last: Nov 2025Current Seafood Bar
116 E 1 ST, Sanford
2 inspections · 9 violations · Last: Feb 2026Ellens Wine Room
440 S SANFORD AVE, Sanford
6 inspections · 8 violations · Last: Nov 2025Marco's Pizza #8651
1510 S FRENCH AVE STE E2, Sanford
2 inspections · 7 violations · Last: Jul 2025Sanford Galleon
541 N PALMETTO AVE STE 103, Sanford
2 inspections · 7 violations · Last: Jul 2025Jersey Mike's
300 WEST LAKE MARY BLVD STE 130, Sanford
4 inspections · 4 violations · Last: Mar 2026Casa Diablo
2701 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
2 inspections · 4 violations · Last: Mar 2026Nature's Table
1200 RED CLEVELAND BLVD, Sanford
2 inspections · 3 violations · Last: Dec 2025Naavies Frozen Yogurt
200 W LAKE MARY BLVD, Sanford
2 inspections · 2 violations · Last: Jul 2025Futurebean
3653 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
2 inspections · 2 violations · Last: Jun 2025Hywaze FDACS Retail
316 S French Ave, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet/Prepackaged/No PHFTbr Food INC. FDACS Retail
690 W Airport Blvd, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store/Prepackaged/No Food ServiceTierra Caliente Food Truck # 2 FDACS Retail
4103 S ORLANDO DRIVE, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Food ServiceExpress Mart FDACS Retail
4001 Bedford RD, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store Significant FS AND/OR Packaged IceWawa #5218 Establishment #: 375626 FDACS Retail
4660 WEST STATE ROAD 46, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store Significant FS AND/OR Packaged Ice Inspected By: BONNIE KRONZ,Circle K # 7126 FDACS Retail
2631 S Sanford Ave, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store Limited FST&d Brothers LLC FDACS Retail
2568 rush bay way, Sanford
FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables