St John the Baptist Parish Restaurant Inspections Reveal Critical Health Violations

Top four restaurants cited for issues like improper food storage, lack of food safety certification, and unsanitary conditions

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The L'Observateur Newspaper obtained food safety inspection data from the Louisiana Department of Health for the period of January 18 to February 14, 2026, highlighting the top four restaurants in St John the Baptist Parish with the most critical health violations. The violations ranged from employees drinking in food prep areas, lack of proper food storage, and missing equipment like hand towels and dumpster plugs.

Why it matters

Restaurant health inspections are crucial for ensuring food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses in the community. These findings shed light on ongoing issues that need to be addressed to protect public health, especially in high-risk areas like food preparation and storage.

The details

The top four restaurants cited were Smoothie & Donut Restaurant, Victorious Life FWC, Tienda Internacional Grocery, and La Ceibena Market. Violations included employees drinking in food prep areas, lack of food safety certification, improper food storage, missing equipment like hand towels and dumpster plugs, and food preparation in non-permitted facilities.

  • The inspection data covered the period from January 18 to February 14, 2026.

The players

Louisiana Department of Health

The state agency responsible for conducting food safety inspections and enforcing health regulations in restaurants and other food establishments.

L'Observateur Newspaper

The local newspaper that obtained and reported on the restaurant inspection data for St John the Baptist Parish.

Smoothie & Donut Restaurant

A restaurant in Laplace, Louisiana that was cited for two critical violations, including an employee drinking in a food prep area and lack of a food safety certificate.

Victorious Life FWC

A restaurant in Laplace, Louisiana that was cited for three critical violations, including improper storage of raw and ready-to-eat foods, and lack of labeling on chemical containers.

Tienda Internacional Grocery

A grocery store in Laplace, Louisiana that was cited for three critical violations, including preparing food in a non-permitted facility, lack of proper food labeling, and missing hand towels in the restroom.

La Ceibena Market

A market in Laplace, Louisiana that was cited for three critical violations, including preparing food in a non-permitted facility, lack of proper food labeling, and missing hand towels and a waste can in the restroom.

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The takeaway

These restaurant inspection findings highlight the ongoing need for strict enforcement of health regulations and proper food safety practices in the St John the Baptist Parish community to protect public health and prevent foodborne illnesses.