SF Seafood Market Closed for Food Storage Violations

Health inspectors have ordered the immediate closure of T P Seafood & Meat Co in Bayview after discovering serious food storage violations that posed significant contamination risks to customers. The routine inspection on November 3, 2025, revealed multiple health code violations that forced the restaurant to shut down operations. The most concerning violation found during this inspection involved improper food storage practices that directly threatened food safety. Inspectors discovered food items stored directly on the floor rather than the required six inches above ground level, creating serious contamination risks from pest access and exposure to cleaning chemicals and contaminated water used during floor cleaning operations.

Critical Equipment Failures

In addition to the floor storage violations, health inspectors identified significant equipment issues with the restaurant's refrigeration system. The walk-in freezers showed damaged doors that compromised the facility's ability to maintain proper food temperatures and created entry points for pests and contaminants. According to the California Retail Food Code violations cited, damaged freezer doors can harbor bacteria in cracks and prevent proper temperature control, leading to rapid food spoilage and increased risk of foodborne illness. The equipment violations were classified under Section 114130 and 114160 of the state food code, which requires all commercial food equipment to be maintained in good repair and capable of withstanding commercial use.

Health Risks and Customer Impact

The combination of floor-level food storage and damaged refrigeration equipment created multiple pathways for contamination at the restaurant. Food stored on floors becomes exposed to bacteria, cleaning chemicals, and pest contamination during routine floor washing. When combined with compromised freezer doors, the risk of temperature abuse and bacterial growth increases exponentially. Customers who may have purchased seafood or meat products from T P Seafood & Meat Co during the period leading up to the inspection face potential exposure to foodborne pathogens including salmonella, E. coli, and other dangerous bacteria commonly associated with improperly stored protein products. The Bayview establishment, located at 500 Mendell Street near the T-Third Muni line, serves a diverse community that relies on local food establishments for fresh seafood and meat products. The closure removes a key protein source for neighborhood residents while highlighting ongoing food safety challenges in the district.

Inspection History and Enforcement

This represents the first recorded health inspection for T P Seafood & Meat Co in the city's database, making the immediate closure particularly significant. The restaurant's failure to meet basic food storage requirements on its initial inspection suggests fundamental gaps in food safety training and procedures. Inspector Montre Tieu, who conducted the examination between 9:45 AM and 11:20 AM, documented three separate violations and ordered immediate corrective actions. The facility owner, TP Seafood & Meat Co. Inc., must address all violations before the restaurant can reopen for business. The San Francisco Department of Public Health requires restaurants to correct all violations and pass a reinspection before resuming operations. As of the inspection date, no reopening timeline has been established for the Mendell Street location.