HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A shocking video captured by a delivery driver inside China Yan in Homestead has sparked outrage after it revealed unsanitary food preparation practices.
The footage, which has since gone viral on social media, shows a restaurant employee mixing food in a large bowl placed directly on the floor, with his bare hand and arm submerged up to the elbow.
Food safety expert Danielle Egger, CEO of Florida Food Safety Systems, expressed concerns about the risks involved.
“This could be a foodborne illness outbreak waiting to happen,” said Egger, who has 25 years of experience in food safety and is a former foodborne illness investigator for the state.
The video shows multiple food items being prepared on the floor, with no gloves being used. According to Egger, some bacteria are highly resistant to heat, making proper food handling crucial.
“There are certain germs that just won’t cook off with high heat. Even so, this is a big concern,” Egger warned.
She also highlighted that some bacteria, like Staphylococcus (staph), are naturally found on human skin and can survive cooking temperatures.
“There are certain bacteria, like staph, for instance, that’s heat resistant. Staph can form spores that are heat tolerant,” she said.
China Yan was recently ordered to shut down after live roaches were spotted crawling on the kitchen floor. The restaurant has a history of repeated food safety violations, including a prior shutdown in December due to another roach infestation.
State records indicate that since 2022, seven of China Yan’s inspections have resulted in citations for improper handwashing. Inspectors previously observed employees failing to wash their hands after cracking raw eggs, touching their face, and handling a phone before preparing food. Other violations included a blocked handwashing sink, lack of soap at a handwashing station, and food stored at unsafe temperatures.
“Floors are not considered a food contact surface, so therefore they’re not required to be sanitized regularly,” Egger explained.
Local 10 News investigator Jeff Weinsier attempted to confront the restaurant’s owner, Mr. Lin, about the video. However, the owner refused to comment, shutting the door when asked about the unsanitary food handling.
“Why are they not wearing gloves? Why are they mixing up to their elbows? It’s not sanitary!” Weinsier asked before the door was slammed shut.
Egger advises customers to be vigilant when choosing a restaurant. Some red flags include:
*A bad smell upon entry
*Dirty or dusty air conditioning vents could lead to an unclean kitchen
*Unclean bathrooms
As for China Yan, Egger believes the owners and staff need serious retraining in food safety. But the question remains -- will that happen?
For now, customers are left questioning what really goes on behind closed kitchen doors.