La Paloma Mexican Restaurant, a popular Portland, Oregon eatery, made headlines when a pattern of repeated critical violations that had not been corrected over three inspection cycles.
A longtime Portland Mexican restaurant had its operating permit revoked by the Multnomah County Health Department after failing three consecutive inspections. The most recent inspection found 11 violations including active rodent infestation, critical temperature failures, and employees not demonstrating basic food safety knowledge.
Health department closures fall into two categories: voluntary (restaurant closes to correct problems) and ordered (inspectors determine the public health risk is immediate). An ordered closure means conditions were severe enough that continued operation posed an imminent danger to customers.
Inspectors documented that the owner had been given multiple extensions to correct violations but failed to complete required corrective actions. Additionally, the most recent inspection found violations that were identical to those cited 18 months earlier. As reported by the Oregonian, the restaurant had been cited for similar violations on all three of its prior inspections over an 18-month period.
The inspection was triggered by a combination of routine scheduling and community complaints. Inspectors arrived unannounced and spent several hours systematically walking through every area of the kitchen and food storage zones.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million Americans are sickened by foodborne illness each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Routine health inspections are among the most effective tools for preventing outbreaks.
Want to know if your favorite restaurant passes health inspections? Check inspection scores for any restaurant at InspectorEats.com before your next meal.
While The permit revocation was upheld on appeal; the restaurant subsequently closed permanently, health experts emphasize that consumers should stay vigilant about where they eat.