UPDATE: In a statement, Castello’s Pizza told News 6 that the “unexpected migration of roaches” was reported following remodeling/construction on the second floor of the building. News 6 has updated this article with a full statement from the pizzeria.

Last week, 10 more Central Florida eateries were forced to shut down (at least temporarily) after a visit from a health inspector, according to state records.

These records show that the reported eateries experienced violations like rodent droppings, roaches, and storage issues, among others.

One eatery in particular — Castello’s Pizza in Orlando — had around 300 dead roaches in glue traps around the establishment, a health inspector reported. However, the pizzeria was able to reopen just a couple of days later.

On Aug. 18, a representative for Castello’s Pizza provided News 6 with a statement explaining the circumstances behind the discovery:

“Prior to the incident, remodeling/construction had been taking place on the second floor of the building. Following that work, we experienced an unexpected migration of roaches into our space.

Castello’s already had professional pest-control measures in place, including glue traps throughout monitored areas. This is an important distinction because the approximately 300 roaches highlighted in the headline were dead and found in those glue traps, as your article itself reports. The inspection also reported 16 live roaches. This is NOT an infestation.

The large number of dead insects was therefore found in devices specifically installed as part of our pest-control and monitoring efforts. We are not trying to minimize the seriousness of finding any pest activity in a restaurant. We take it very seriously. However, we believe the distinction between hundreds of dead insects accumulated in pest-control traps and hundreds of live roaches actively present in the restaurant is important context for the public.

We responded immediately. We intensified pest-control treatment and monitoring and have been addressing the situation aggressively, including daily pest-control attention following the incident.

Most importantly, the restaurant was closed on August 4 and met inspection standards on August 6, allowing us to reopen shortly afterward. Your article also acknowledges that Castello’s was able to reopen just a couple of days later.

Unfortunately, since publication of the story, we have experienced prank calls and people posting the article and its headline on our social-media pages and Google Business Profiles, including on a separate Castello’s location that had nothing to do with this inspection. Some of these people have never been customers and are simply using the story to attack the business….

The majority of the insects referenced in the headline were dead and contained in pest-control glue traps; we already had professional pest-control measures in place; we immediately intensified treatment; and the restaurant passed the follow-up inspection and met state standards two days later.

We have operated Castello’s for almost 18 years and take food safety, cleanliness, and the trust of our customers extremely seriously. This is the first time we have been shut down. This was an unfortunate incident, but we addressed it immediately and continue taking aggressive preventative measures.”

That said, many of the other Central Florida eateries that were forced to close down last week were also eventually allowed to reopen after meeting health standards.

The full list of Central Florida eateries required to close last week is as follows:

BUNNELL

• Taqueria La Calentana Dos — 604 E. Moody Blvd.
• • Closed on Aug. 3
  • • Over 20 live, flying insects found on premises
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 6

ORLANDO

• Castello’s Pizza — 8947 Conroy Windermere Road
• • Closed on Aug. 4
  • • Around 300 dead roaches found in glue traps throughout establishment
    • Sixteen live roaches found on premises
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 6
• Hooter’s — 8510 Palm Pkwy.
• • Closed on Aug. 5
  • • Over 40 live, flying insects found on premises
    • Employee touched raw burgers with gloves and touched clean utensils with same gloves
    • Time/temperature violations for chicken wings and hamburger patties
    • Ware-washing sanitizing solution exceeded maximum concentration allowed
  • Follow-up inspection required as of Aug. 6
• Jersey Mike’s Subs — 6700 Conroy Road
• • Closed on Aug. 7
  • • Nineteen dead roaches in traps under front counter
    • Six live roaches found on premises, primarily in traps under front counter
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 8
• Subway Sandwiches & Salads — 8839 Conroy Road
• • Closed on Aug. 4
  • • Over 30 live, flying insects found on premises
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 4
• The Juicy Crab — 7308 International Drive
• • Closed on Aug. 7
  • • Seventeen dead roaches found on premises, primarily beneath wok station
    • Dozen live roaches found on premises, primarily in wok holder on cooks line or under wok station
    • Nearly 30 small, flying insects found on premises, primarily by soda machine
    • Pesticide labeled for household use only was present on cooks line fan
    • Raw whole shell eggs were touching buckets in walk-in cooler
    • Time/temperature violations for potatoes and corn
    • Toxic chemical/substance improperly stored next to wok station
    • Vacuum breaker missing at fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet
  • Follow-up inspection required as of Aug. 8
• White Wolf Café & Bar — 1829 N. Orange Ave.
• • Closed on Aug. 3
  • • Over 70 rodent droppings found beneath counter of bar area
    • Time/temperature violations for cheese; ham; sausage; pancake batter; chicken salad; turkey; coleslaw; poached eggs; and cut tomatoes
    • Server drank from cup while waiting to pickup food, which was served without first washing hands
    • Dish person loads and unloads dishes without washing hands
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 4

ST. PETERSBURG

• Buffet City — 1030 58 Street N.
• • Closed on Aug. 3
  • • Three dead roaches found in sticky trap beneath hand-wash sink by kitchen entrance
    • Six other dead roaches found on premises
    • Over 20 live roaches found on premises (operator killed all roaches)
    • Roach droppings found in corners of shelving in dry storage area
    • Raw chicken kept over raw shrimp in reach-in cooler
    • Raw chicken kept over raw salmon in walk-in freezer
    • Raw chicken stored over pizzas in reach-in cooler near ovens
    • Dishwasher not reaching hot enough temperature
  • Met inspection standards on Aug. 6

TAMPA

• Devito’s Italian Specialties — 200 N. Tampa Street
• • Closed on Aug. 4
  • • Three dead roaches found on premises
    • Eight live roaches found on premises
    • Raw shell eggs stored over bread and desserts
    • Raw beef stored over milk in walk-in cooler
  • Follow-up inspection required as of Aug. 5
• The Fryer House — 6617 N. Nebraska Ave.
• • Closed on Aug. 3
  • • Two flies spotted in kitchen
    • Three live roaches found near stand mixer
    • Eight live roaches found near grease trap
    • Raw chicken kept over unwashed produce in reach-in cooler
    • Three rodent droppings discovered near A/C unit in closet
    • Employee touched phone and then chicken without changing gloves or washing hands
    • Time/temperature violations for coleslaw, butter and cut lettuce
  • Follow-up inspection required as of Aug. 4