How many health inspections has JOHNNY GRITS had?

JOHNNY GRITS has had 29 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.

Has JOHNNY GRITS ever been shut down?

Yes, JOHNNY GRITS has been shut down 1 time by state inspectors.

What are the most common violations at JOHNNY GRITS?

The most frequently cited violations at JOHNNY GRITS are: Proper ventilation, Food contact surfaces, Consumer advisory.

What does Florida violation V03 (Employee health reporting) mean?

OUTBREAK ENABLER: Food workers who fail to report illness symptoms are the #1 cause of multi-victim outbreaks. Norovirus is shed in billions of viral particles per gram of stool — as few as 18 particles cause infection. One symptomatic worker can infect hundreds of customers before detection. CDC links 70% of Norovirus outbreaks to infected food handlers. Employees must immediately report: vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever, infected wounds or boils. Must also report diagnosed illness with Salmonella Typhi, Shigella, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A virus, or Norovirus. Person in charge must exclude or restrict employees per FDA Food Code guidelines.

What does Florida violation V12 (Shell stock requirements) mean?

SHELLFISH TRACEABILITY: Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) are high-risk foods consumed raw or lightly cooked. Without proper identification tags, contaminated shellfish cannot be traced during outbreaks. Vibrio vulnificus from Gulf shellfish has a 50% fatality rate in at-risk populations. Norovirus in shellfish causes 50% of shellfish-related illnesses. Proper tags enable rapid recall during outbreaks. Maintain shellfish tags for 90 days from date of sale/service. Tags must include: harvester name and certification number, harvest date and location, quantity, dealer information. Store shellfish in original tagged container until empty. Record date on each container when last shell is removed. Never commingle shellfish from different lots.

What does Florida violation V31 (Clean multi-use utensils) mean?

BACTERIAL BIOFILM: Improperly cleaned multi-use utensils develop bacterial biofilms within 24 hours. These biofilms protect pathogens (Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli) from routine sanitizing — requiring physical scrubbing to remove. Each use of a contaminated utensil transfers pathogens to food. Improperly cleaned cutting boards harbor 200x more bacteria than a toilet seat. Clean and sanitize all multi-use utensils using the 3-compartment sink method: Wash in hot soapy water (110°F minimum), rinse in clean water, sanitize in approved solution (50-100 ppm chlorine or 200-400 ppm quaternary ammonium for 30 seconds), air dry. Or use properly functioning commercial dishwasher. Clean utensils at least every 4 hours during continuous use.

JOHNNY GRITS

857 E KLOSTERMAN RD, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Pinellas County · Permanent Food Service · Owner: OVER EZ TARPON INC · License: SEA6215039

JOHNNY GRITS in Tarpon Springs, FL has 29 inspections on record with 313 total violations (10.8 per inspection) and 1 emergency closure.

29Inspections

313Violations

1Closures

Data current as of September 9, 2025

Emergency Closures (1)

Emergency closure history for JOHNNY GRITS
Date	Reason	Reopened
Sep 9, 2025	Roach activity	09:27:00

Inspection History (29)

Mar 12, 2025 — Routine - Food· 5 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Jan 30, 2025 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Nov 22, 2024 — Routine - Food· 4 violations (2 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

Apr 26, 2024 — Routine - Food· 2 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

Apr 17, 2024 — Routine - Food· 6 violations (3 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

Nov 28, 2023 — Routine - Food· 4 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

Oct 26, 2023 — Routine - Food· 23 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Mar 9, 2023 — Routine - Food· 9 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V11 Food in good condition

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

Dec 9, 2022 — Routine - Food· 7 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Apr 13, 2022 — Routine - Food· 6 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V12 Shell stock requirements

V16 Proper cooking temps

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Jan 20, 2022 — Routine - Food· 5 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V12 Shell stock requirements

V21 Time as control

Intermediate Violations

V41 Toilet facilities

Jan 15, 2021 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Aug 5, 2020 — Routine - Food· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V41 Toilet facilities

Mar 5, 2020 — Routine - Food· 6 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V14 Food contact surfaces

V22 Consumer advisory

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V32 Proper sanitizing

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Aug 26, 2019 — Routine - Food· 15 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V36 Proper ventilation

Aug 23, 2019 — Routine - Food· 34 violations (6 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V07 No bare hand contact

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V11 Food in good condition

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Feb 7, 2019 — Routine - Food· 19 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

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Jul 16, 2018 — 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

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

Apr 9, 2018 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V13 Parasite destruction

V22 Consumer advisory

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Feb 7, 2018 — Routine - Food· 12 violations · Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V13 Parasite destruction

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Nov 28, 2017 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Nov 27, 2017 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V10 Approved food source

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Nov 16, 2017 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 34 violations (5 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V11 Food in good condition

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V21 Time as control

V24 Toxic substance control

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V40 Wiping cloths usage

V41 Toilet facilities

V42 Equipment condition

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

May 24, 2017 — Routine - Food· 2 violations · Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Apr 24, 2017 — Routine - Food· 5 violations · Call Back - Extension given, pending

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Mar 23, 2017 — Routine - Food· 10 violations · Call Back - Extension given, pending

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Mar 22, 2017 — Routine - Food· 23 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Mar 21, 2017 — Routine - Food· 42 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V11 Food in good condition

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

V40 Wiping cloths usage

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Oct 26, 2016 — Routine - Food· 15 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V05 Handwashing procedures

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V22 Consumer advisory

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V32 Proper sanitizing

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

How Does This Facility Compare?

JOHNNY GRITS has had 1 emergency closures, compared to the Pinellas County average of 0.27 closures per facility. It has averaged 10.8 violations per inspection vs. the county average of 4.56.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many health inspections has JOHNNY GRITS had?: JOHNNY GRITS has had 29 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.
Has JOHNNY GRITS ever been shut down?: Yes, JOHNNY GRITS has been shut down 1 time by state inspectors.
What are the most common violations at JOHNNY GRITS?: The most frequently cited violations at JOHNNY GRITS are: Proper ventilation, Food contact surfaces, Consumer advisory.

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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: September 9, 2025 | Our methodology | Editorial standards | Report an error

This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with JOHNNY GRITS.