WITHOUT A FOOD PERMIT, REYNOLDO NAVARRO, THE OWNER OF M&M PINTO BEAN ON LAURENT, CAN NOT OPEN HIS RESTAURANT.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED A NOTICE TO REVOKE THE PERMIT FOR REPEATED VIOLATIONS.  NAVARRO FILED AN APPEAL AND AT AN APPEAL HEARING TUESDAY NIGHT, NAVARRO AND HEALTH INSPECTORS WENT OVER THE VIOLATIONS FROM THE PAST YEAR... AND THE REVIEW BOARD DECIDED THE RESTAURANT NEEDED TO BE SHUT DOWN.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE VIOLATIONS ARE A RESULT OF EMPLOYEES MISHANDLING FOOD.

"IT WAS OPERATIONAL. WHEN YOU'RE HANDLING READY TO EAT FOOD, SAY SALAD OR LETTUCE AND TOMATOES, YOU HAVE TO  MAKE SURE THAT WE LIMIT THE BARE HAND CONTACT AND SO WE REQUEST THAT THEY USE GLOVES. AND, WE DID NOT OBSERVE GLOVE USE, FOR EXAMPLE," SAID TAMMY FICAK, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR.
NAVARRO NOW WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP M&M PINTO BEAN AND TRAIN HIS STAFF ON PROPER FOOD HANDLING AND HYGIENE. HE THEN CAN APPLY FOR A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT PERMIT AS A NEW BUSINESS.

FIKAC SAID, "WE'RE STARTING WITH A CLEAN PLATE AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE."
FIKAC SAYS IT COULD BE A MATTER OF DAYS, OR WEEKS, BEFORE M&M PINTO BEAN IS ALLOWED TO OPEN IT'S DOORS AGAIN.
WE CHECKED TO SEE IF THE OWNER WAS AT THE RESTAURANT FOR COMMENT -- THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE LIGHTS WERE OFF.