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Restaurant · Wake County, NC

Tropical Smoothie

1028 Oberlin Rd

Last inspected Sep 16, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Score 96

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More issues recentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

1 - Inspection

Sep 16, 2025

Score 96

Official score: 96 · Understand this area’s scale

7 recorded violations

notedCode 2-501.11Other

Official wording

Procedures for responding to vomiting & diarrheal events

Inspector’s notes

2-501.11; Priority Foundation; PIC has a bodily fluid clean up kit but does not have a procedure for cleaning vomit and diarrhea. A food establishment shall have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events. CDI- EHS provided education and paperwork for the PIC at the end of the inspection.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 3-302.11(A)(8)Other

Official wording

Food separated & protected

Inspector’s notes

3-302.11(A)(8); Core; Observed unwashed box of tomatoes; strawberries; and blueberries above RTE (ready to eat) turkey and bacon in the walk in cooler. Separate ready-to-eat foods from washed/unwashed fruits and vegetables. EHS discussed with PIC who moved the tomatoes.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 4-601.11(A)Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(A); Priority Foundation; Can opener blade; vegetable dicer and slicer in the clean dish area stored soiled in clean dish area. Additioanlly; there was a thick; residual coating on the interior food prep sink basin in front area. Equipment food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. CDI- The PIC placed all items at the three compartment sink to be washed; rinsed and sanitized before re-use/storage. Employee cleaned the front prep sink and sanitized at end of each inspection.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 3-501.16(A)(2)Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

3-501.16(A)(2); Priority; Sliced tomato; shredded lettuce; and yogurt holding in small front flip top cooler above 41F (see temp chart). Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. CDI- All TCS items cooled back to 41F within an hour. There was a piece of parchment paper on top of fans preventing the air from circulating. Do NOT place parchment paper on top of fans- this was done to maintain the cooler clean; but prevents good air flow.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 3-302.12Food source and labeling

Official wording

Food properly labeled: original container

Inspector’s notes

3-302.12; Core; Missing labels on cinnamon; chia seeds; probiotics; and collagen. Label all working containers of food (oils; spices; salts; flour; sugar) except food that is easy to identify such as dry pasta.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
notedCode 4-901.11(A)Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Utensils; equipment & linens: properly stored; dried & handled

Inspector’s notes

4-901.11(A); Core; Multiple lexan pans noted wet-stacked. Air dry equipment and utensils after cleaning and sanitizing.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
notedCode 4-602.13Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

4-602.13; Core; The outside of cabinets; and dry storage shelving areas; shelving underneath blenders; area under front handsink; gaskets on refrigerators; and ice machine separator blade (nonfood contact portion); are unclean and accumulated with debris. Non food-contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. Repeat; full points.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Wake County Environmental Services, Sep 16, 2025 · Original Source

1 - Inspection

Jul 8, 2024

Score 98

Official score: 98 · Understand this area’s scale

5 recorded violations

notedCode Observation: SpatulasCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Observation: Spatulas; pizza cutter and other utensils in contact with temperature control safety foods accumulated with debris and had not been cleaned since facility opened at 9:00am. CDI: Utensils were removed from service and washed; rinsed and sanitized. Ensure that in use utensils are washed; rinsed and sanitized every 4 hours.4-602.11; Utensils if used with POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD (TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD); EQUIPMENT FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be cleaned throughout the day at least every 4 hours. P

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
criticalCode Observation: The additives being added to smoothies have warning labels on them for pregnant conditionOther

Official wording

Food additives: approved & properly used

Inspector’s notes

Observation: The additives being added to smoothies have warning labels on them for pregnant condition; no usage under 18 or if other health conditions relative to the heart; thyroid. There is not a disclosure to the public and these are not listed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe for the use as an additive to food products (smoothies). CDI: Operator discontinued use of these products until such time information is submitted for use; control and disclosure to the public (warning labels) 3-302.14; Priority; (A) FOOD shall be protected from contamination that may result from the addition of; as specified in sec. 3 202.12: (1) Unsafe or unAPPROVED FOOD or COLOR ADDITIVES; P

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode Observation: There ar not ambient air thermometers in the prep refrigerators. Ensure that all refrigeration is equipped with a thermometer for monitoring of equipment temperature. 4-204-112Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector’s notes

Observation: There ar not ambient air thermometers in the prep refrigerators. Ensure that all refrigeration is equipped with a thermometer for monitoring of equipment temperature. 4-204-112;Cold or hot holding EQUIPMENT used for POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD (TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD) shall be designed to include and shall be equipped with at least one integral or permanently affixed TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE that is located to allow easy viewing of the device's temperature display.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
minorCode Observation: The non food contact surfaces of the can openerCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

Observation: The non food contact surfaces of the can opener; shelving areas; gaskets on refrigerators; interior upper wall of ice bin are unclean and accumulated with debris. 4-602.13; Core; Non FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode Observation: Floors are sticky and debris is accumulated under equipment. Increase cleaning frequency to maintain clean floors. 6-501.12Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Physical facilities installed; maintained & clean

Inspector’s notes

Observation: Floors are sticky and debris is accumulated under equipment. Increase cleaning frequency to maintain clean floors. 6-501.12; Core;(A) PHYSICAL FACILITIES shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Wake County Environmental Services, Jul 8, 2024 · Original Source

1 - Inspection

Jan 30, 2024

Score 100

Official score: 100 · Understand this area’s scale

1 recorded violation

minorCode 4-601.11(B) and (C)Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(B) and (C); Core; Food splash observed on the cabinets above the smoothie station. NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust; dirt; FOOD residue; and other debris.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Wake County Environmental Services, Jan 30, 2024 · Original Source

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