Florida restaurant inspectors cited Natural Chicken Grill at 95 NW First St. in downtown Miami after rodents were observed. They also whacked El Toro Taco in Homestead for roach activity.

Both restaurants received orders to shut down after an unannounced July 10 inspection, but were allowed to reopen the next day upon re-inspection.

Restaurant inspections are conducted randomly throughout the state

every week by Safety and Sanitation Inspectors from the Florida

Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

When a restaurant is closed in this way, it doesn't represent disciplinary action, but instead "an action taken to mitigate conditions that pose an elevated risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the public or the establishment's employees."

El Toro Taco has faced more serious issues in the past. Let's hope it doesn't fall back.

Roach activity is a common cause for emergency closures in Florida. Roaches carry pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, and salmonella.

Even though cockroaches are difficult to control in Florida, better efforts should be made to contain the disease-carrying insect, and rodents too, so customers don't have to stop visiting their favorite local eateries.

Large chains and higher-end restaurants rarely seem to make it on the list. Pest containment can get expensive, but the lack of it is more expensive. Dropping a little extra coin on reputable exterminators pays off in the long run.

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