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Restaurant · Wake County, NC

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Nc-55

6679-101 Falls Of Neuse Rd

Last inspected Feb 13, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Score 97

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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

Feb 13, 2026

Score 97

Official score: 97 · Understand this area’s scale

7 recorded violations

notedCode 3-304.14(B)Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector’s notes

3-304.14(B); Core; A wet wiping cloth was store don the drain board of the 3 compartment sink. Hold in-use wiping cloths in properly concentrated sanitizer between uses. CDI- Wiping cloth was discarded.

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 4-903.11 (A)Equipment and utensils

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

4-903.11 (A); A knife was stored on the handles of the faucet at the prep sink by the can opener. Store cleaned equipment; utensils; linens in a clean; dry location; where they are not exposed to splash; dust; or other contamination; and at least 6 inches above the floor. CDI- Knife was washed; rinsed; and sanitized; then allowed to air dry.

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 4-501.11Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Equipment; food & non-food contact surfaces approved; cleanable; properly designed; constructed & used

Inspector’s notes

4-501.11; Core; The shelving under the prep tables and the lids of the trashcans are rusting. Equipment and components shall be maintained intact and in good repair/condition. Remove rust and ensure surfaces is smooth again -you may replace the contact paper on the shelving. 4-501.12; Core; The cutting board at the salads/bowls/snacks cooler is scored and has black residue in the grooves. Cutting boards that can no longer be appropriately cleaned and sanitized shall be resurfaced or replaced. Resurface or replace cutting board.

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 4-601.11(C )Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(C ); The pitchers are being cleaned on the inside; but the outsides have a buildup of residue; especially at the bottoms. The backs of monitors and holding rods need wiping down. The shelving over the makeline cooler needs wiping down. The bottom of the smoothie bar cooler needs wiping down. Keep non food contact surfaces of equipment clean to avoid build up of dust; food residue or debris. Clean these items more frequently.

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 5-205.15Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector’s notes

5-205.15; Core; The dump sink will spontaneously allow water to come through faucet if the handles are not completely turned off; if the handles are turned off then the push pedals will not work. The faucet at this sink is also corroding. Plumbing systems shall be maintained in good repair. Repair this sink. *No points taken due to sink being repaired since last inspection; but still not functioning as designed.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
minorCode 5-501.114Facility maintenance

Official wording

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector’s notes

5-501.114; Core; Both dumpsters (garbage and recycling) are missing drain plugs. Dumpsters with drains are required to have drain plugs. Have your landlord request drain plugs from your waste management company.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
notedCode 6-501.11Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Physical facilities installed; maintained & clean

Inspector’s notes

6-501.11; Core; The baseboard is separating from the wall in the men's bathroom. Walls; floors; and ceilings shall be easily cleanable. Ensure baseboard remains attached to wall to ensure ease of cleaning. 6-501.12; Core; The floors in the walk-in cooler and freezer need cleaning due to food debris; the floor drain at the prep sink by the can opener needs cleaning; the ceiling vent in the women's bathroom has a buildup of dust; and some of the ceiling vents over the food prep lines need cleaning. Physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean. Increase cleaning frequency to these areas.

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, Feb 13, 2026 · Original Source

1 - Inspection

Jan 30, 2025

Score 97.5

Official score: 97.5 · Understand this area’s scale

6 recorded violations

notedCode 3-501.16 (A)(2) and (B)Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

3-501.16 (A)(2) and (B); Priority; Three small; individual containers of chopped kale salad found holding as high as 46F in the prep cooler. Top portion of food in containers holding 46F while lower portion of food in containers holding 40F. TCS food shall be cold held at 41F or below. CDI- Facility was allowed to rapidly cool food down in reach-in cooler. Do not stack containers of kale salad too high.

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 3-307.11Contamination

Official wording

Contamination prevented during food preparation; storage & display

Inspector’s notes

3-307.11; Core; Employee food and opened beverage can found stored on middle shelf of walk-in cooler; above facility's food. Food shall be protected from miscellaneous sources of contamination. Designate a better location for employee food where contamination of facility's food may not occur. 3-305.11; Core; One box of shredded lettuce found stored directly on the floor under rack in the walk-in cooler. Facility is closed on Friday-Sunday and today is the first day of operation since delivery was received. Food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food in a clean; dry location; where it is not exposed to splash; dust; or other contamination; and at least 6 inches above the floor. CDI- Food was relocated during the inspection.

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
notedCode 3-304.14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector’s notes

3-304.14; Core; Sanitizer buckets in the front makeline observed with a concentration below 200ppm active quat. Cloths in-use for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces shall be held between uses in a chemical sanitizing solution at the proper concentration (200-400ppm for quaternary ammonium). Solution at dispenser observed with a concentration of 300ppm active quat. CDI- Sanitizer buckets were replenished during the 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 4-903.11(A)Equipment and utensils

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

4-903.11(A); (B) and (D); Core; 1) Clean pitchers found stored inverted on a draining rack at the makeline- pitchers were stacked while still wet and were coming in contact with drain rack that had a layer of collected standing water and debris. 2)Clean squeeze bottles found stored in two third pans that had collected debris/residue. Cleaned equipment and utensils shall be stored in a clean; dry location and shall be stored in a self-draining position that allows air drying. CDI- Pitchers were taken to the warewashing sink to be cleaned and sanitized; draining rack was cleaned and sanitized; and third pans were taken to the warewashing sink to be cleaned and sanitized.

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 5-205.15Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector’s notes

5-205.15; Core; Plumbing system under dump sink has an active drip. A plumbing system shall be maintained in good repair. Ensure this leak is repaired.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 6-501.12Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Physical facilities installed; maintained & clean

Inspector’s notes

6-501.12; Core; Cleaning is needed under and behind equipment; especially near floor drain at front dump sink. Physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean. Increase cleaning frequency to these areas.

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, 2025 · Original Source

1 - Inspection

Jan 17, 2024

Score 99

Official score: 99 · Understand this area’s scale

2 recorded violations

minorCode 4-501.11Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Equipment; food & non-food contact surfaces approved; cleanable; properly designed; constructed & used

Inspector’s notes

4-501.11; Core; The shelf holding bottles of syrups on the make line is rusted...Equipment and components shall be maintained intact and in good repair/condition. Replace this shelf.

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 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; The door frames of the coolers on the line have light residue buildup...Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust; dirt; food residue; and other debris. Clean any areas building up soil; debris; and/or grease.

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 17, 2024 · Original Source

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