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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameEL TROPICO RESTAURANT
Address4335 N TRYON ST
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 2/24/2025
Final Score @ Grade
95 A
General CommentsPermit being amended to require sign-in logs be maintained in facility for mobile food units that utilize facility as a commissary. Logs must include the date, time, and signature of MFU PIC. Failure to maintain logs in facility may result in revocation of commissary privileges.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
3 0 Management, food & conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities & reporting Yes No No 2-103.11(O) Ensure food employees are informed of their responsibility to report required symptoms, illnesses and exposure. - PF - Observed no signed copies of employee health policy available in facility. Employee health policy poster observed on the wall. - CDI - EHS provided employee health policy for employees to review and sign. Maintain signed copies in facility. For more information on employee health policy, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety
8 2 Hands clean & properly washed Yes No No 2-301.14 (G) Wash hands when switching between working with raw food and working with Ready to Eat Food. - P - Observed employee touch raw meat with gloved hands and then touch ready-to-eat foods with gloved hands without first washing hands and changing gloves. - CDI - Education provided. Employee changed gloves and washed hands. RTE food voluntarily discarded by PIC.
15 1.50 Food separated & protected No No No 3-302.11 (A)(4) Except when the food is being cooled, store food in packages, covered containers, or wrappings. - Observed uncovered food items in lowboys, WIC, and WIF. Cover food items not actively cooling while in storage.
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures No No No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. - P - Observed various TCS items holding above 41F in RIC (see temperature chart). PIC voluntarily discarded products. - VR - Verification required within 3 days to ensure unit has been repaired. For more information, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Safe Food Temperatures https://youtu.be/tXP09IK-1TQ .
28 0 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes No No 7-102.11 Label working containers of toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers. - Pf - Observed two unlabeled spray bottles of chemicals. - CDI - PIC labeled spray bottles appropriately.
35 0 Approved thawing methods used Yes No No 3-501.13 (A), (B), (C ) Use approved thawing methods. - Pf - Observed raw shrimp thawing in stagnant water in three compartment sink. - CDI - Education provided. PIC turned on water over shrimp to continue the thawing process.
47 0 Equipment, food & non-food contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used No No No 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. - Observed rusted shelving throughout facility. Replace. Also observed ice buildup in WIC. Repair.