The famous Mar-a-Lago Club restaurant at the Trump resort in Palm Beach, Fl., has had a problem keeping meat cool, according to state food inspectors.
Florida food safety inspectors reported 13 separate food safety violations at the restaurant frequented in recent weeks by President Donald Trump and his high-profile guests like Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, including meats stored well above the recommended refrigeration temperature, the Miami Herald reports.
During a routine visit January 26, just days after Trump’s inauguration, inspectors found three “high priority” issues in how the Mar-a-Lago club restaurant handled raw meats. The restaurant corrected most of the issues while the inspectors were on-site.
Fish intended to be served undercooked had not “undergone proper parasite destruction,” and had to be discarded or cooked immediately. The inspectors found chicken with internal temperature of 49 degrees, the duck tested 50 degrees, raw beef at 50 degrees, and ham at 57 degrees in the club’s walk-in refrigerators. A technician told the inspectors that the refrigerator was set “on defrost and has corrected the problem.”
The restaurant’s smaller reach-in refrigerator was also keeping meats too warm, so the chef on site moved all the items to the walk-in.
The less severe findings included rust on refrigerator shelves, a sink that ran water was too cold to properly sanitize hands (the hot water was turned off), and an employee hand washing station that didn’t have a sign reminding employees to wash their hands.
While Trump ascended politically, the Mar-a-Lago club restaurant started receiving more food safety violations, the Miami Herald reports. The restaurant had a total of 11 violations last year, up from just two in 2015.
Trump hosted President Xi at the club last weekend, and the pair dined at the Mar-a-Lago club restaurant. Trump said that as U.S. destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea launched tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield, he and the Chinese president were enjoying the club’s chocolate cake for dessert.
The Mar-a-Lago Club did not return The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Follow Thomas Phippen on Twitter
Send tips to thomas@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.