TAMPA, FL -- Steak 'n Shake is famous for steakburgers and their hand-dipped milk shakes. But the store on Sheldon Road in Tampa lately has been known for temperature issues with inspectors.
On August 13, state inspectors made them throw out five pounds of beef and one pound of turkey because they were sitting at improper temperatures.
And just a few months before that in March inspectors issued a stop sale on one pound of produce, a half gallon of dressing, and a quarter pound of beef because they were not maintained at 41 degrees or below, as the state food code requires.
"Are you the manager on duty?" asked ABC Action News Anchor Wendy Ryan.
"Yes, I am," answered manager Chris Hinckfoth.
Hinckfoth has been with the company for two years but was new to this store and knew little about their inspection history.
"I just wanted to ask about the 2 stop sales you had recently. Just a couple weeks ago, it looks like the inspector made you throw out 5 pounds of beef and turkey because of hazardous temperature issues?" asked Ryan.
"I can't really talk to you. You'll have to go to our corporate offices. And I don't know anything about it, I just got back to this store," answered Hinckfoth.
During their last two inspections, this Steak 'n Shake in Tampa accumulated 34 critical violations, where inspectors found bread stored on the floor, small flying insects in the kitchen, and slime in the ice machine.
Hinkfoth gave me Steak 'n Shake's corporate number so we could follow up to get more answers.
I called Steak 'n Shake's corporate office several times trying to get in touch with their media contact, but my call was never returned.
