Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Last inspected: Oct 16, 2025
30
Score
Across the available record, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has five inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 16, 2025. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around 10 violations to closer to 15 violations per visit.
“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
By comparison, the average Jacksonville facility scores 74, putting Tropical Smoothie Cafe on the weaker side. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
5
Inspections
3
Critical latest
3
Major latest
9
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 16, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found. One fly by triple sink **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-7
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Hummus date marked 13th to 20th, opened on the 13th, discard on the 20th, explained to manager
02C-01-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 50f cut kale salad above fill line, employee placed them back in reach in cooler where they epwhere this morning **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand sink by triple sink, employee placed some napkins **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. For 2 one new employee, manager couldn't show me on paper or computer, the other 2 employees without certificates had a signed agreement on paper in binder, explained to manager
11-26-1
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Two employees here for more than 2 months don't have 3rd party certificates explained to manager
53B-13-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed strawberries on shelf above washed frozen strawberries and unwashed tomatoes above catering order, in walk in cooler, explained to manager
08B-17-4
Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. On mop sink
29-18-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf above ice machine, employee removed it **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee making sandwiches
13-04-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee making sandwich, made a pony tail **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Blue container for scoop with brownish build up, manager placed them by triple sink to be washed **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
10-12-5
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Emailed one **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
51-13-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Door frame blackish in sandwich prep unit
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Two bulk containers in storage area, manager stated it's salt and chocolate powder
02D-01-5
30
Dec 10, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
86
Dec 9, 2024
Complaint Full
7 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 19 violations
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee washed blender then took it out from sanitizer without washing hands, explained to her and she washed hands **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands. Employee washed hands only 7 seconds between dirty dishes and clean dishes, explained to her and she washed again **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-17-4
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces sanitized with a quaternary ammonium solution not exposed to the sanitizer solution for at least 30 seconds. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee just dipped the blender in sanitizer, explained to her and she placed it back in properly **Corrected On-Site**
22-50-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One by window in dining area and one by trash in back area
35A-02-6
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. One ant on table for to go bags, manager killed it **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-09-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 49f cooked sweet potatoes, kale slaw and corn salad, above fill line, manager rearranged **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. +400 ppm quat in tripe sink, test strip blueish, manager diluted it, 300 ppm **Corrected On-Site**
41-18-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Manager labeled glass cleaner, front counter
41-17-4
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. Triple sink
16-33-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand sink at front counter, manager placed one **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. Employee changed it, front counter area **Corrected On-Site**
21-11-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Trays for catering on shelf, manager inverted them **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
25-06-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Repeat Violation**
50-09-4
Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. Mop sink, manager placed one **Corrected On-Site**
29-18-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Jacket and purse above clean container, shelf by triple sink **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Food contaminated by aunt. See stop sale. Aunt in hummus, manager discarded hummus **Warning**
08B-19-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Blue container, manager placed it by triple sink to be washed **Corrective Action Taken**
10-12-5
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Emailed one **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
51-13-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Vent-fan in walk in cooler
23-03-4
17
Feb 8, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 6 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 18 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 50f can corn and cooked sweet potato, above fill line in prep cooler, employee rearranged **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee washed dishes then removed them from sanitizer without washing hands, explained to him and he washed hands **Corrected On-Site**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Hummus dated for 8 days, from the 6th to the 13,
02C-01-5
Intermediate - Employee with artificial nails/nail polish working with exposed food without wearing intact gloves. Scooping ice for smoothies
13-06-4
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Emailed one **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Mgr here for 2 months
53A-04-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Cutter in hand sink by triple sink, mgr moved it **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Quat
16-37-1
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. For 5 new employees
11-26-1
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Jacket above bottle waters
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Making smoothies
13-04-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Corner cover missing on door frame by ice machine
36-24-5
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Emailed one **Corrected On-Site**
51-13-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
51-18-6
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Plates in storage shelf, inverted by mgr, plastic wrap on storage shelf, mgr placed it in bag, box of to go container on floor in storage closet /water heater room **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
25-06-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed fruit on shelf above cut fruit, walk in cooler, explained to mgr
08B-17-4
Basic - Abrasives and detergents not removed during the rinse process. Employee washing dishes and them placing them in sanitizer, explained to him
16-10-4
22
Dec 6, 2022
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Small crawling insects on wall above and to he side of front counter ice bin in the smoothie prep area **Warning**
35A-09-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Platter lids stored not inverted, employee inverted platters and lids **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tropical Smoothie Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on file is from Oct 16, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
How does Tropical Smoothie Cafe compare to other restaurants in Jacksonville?
Tropical Smoothie Cafe most recently scored 30 out of 100, which is lower than the Jacksonville average of 74.
Has Tropical Smoothie Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Tropical Smoothie Cafe have averaged around 15 violations per visit, up from roughly 10 earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Tropical Smoothie Cafe means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Tropical Smoothie Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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