TAMPA, Florida — Teena Scott says she noticed problems from the moment she walked inside the Auburndale Giovanni's Pizza last month. She says she felt uncomfortable and considered leaving, but was convinced to stay by her husband.
After their meal, they both walked by the kitchen and noticed what they describe as disgusting conditions.
"He stopped in his tracks and just stood there and looked," said Scott of her husband. "I got up and followed him and when I looked in that kitchen it was just a horrendous mess."
At first unsure who to call, Teena says she turned to Google. "I just searched 'Florida food inspections.' "
Up popped the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website where Teena navigated to where consumers could file a complaint.
"I kept saying gosh I hope we don't get sick. I hope we don't get food poisoning and that's when I made the decision I'm going to go on the proper website and at least file a complaint to make sure this can get looked into."
Less than a week later a state health inspector showed up finding violations so severe the restaurant was temporarily shut down as an imminent threat to public health, according to a state inspection report, with a filthy refrigerator, soiled pizza dough pans and live roaches.
"This was extreme and something needed to be addressed," said Scott.
The state's Division of Hotels and Restaurants received just over 5,100 complaints just like Teena's over the past year and says it relies on that information from the public to help keep Florida restaurants safe.
Diann Worzalla oversees the state's inspection program.
"Keeping the public from becoming ill, it's a huge, huge responsibility and we take that extremely seriously here," said Worzalla.
Complaints sent in by the public are typically investigated within 48 hours. During the inspection, many violations are corrected on the spot. Others require a re-inspection or in severe cases the temporary closure of the restaurant.
"I know for a fact that the state only has so many inspectors," said Scott. "They only inspect those facilities so many times. Sometimes it's only twice a year. That only every six months! A lot can happen in that period of time."
In fact, fewer than 200 inspectors are in charge of visiting all of Florida's 48,000 restaurants.
"They just can't catch all the problems," said Scott. "So to me if consumers can be the eyes and ears for the state to keep these restaurants on their toes and keep them in compliance then yea, it's very important."
The state does not investigate customer service issues like a rudeness or slow service. They're worried only about things that might make customers sick. Providing false information to inspectors is a second degree misdemeanor.
Click here for a direct link on where to file restaurant complaints with the state of Florida.
Click here to review restaurant inspection results.
