News Summary
In Beaufort County, eleven food businesses received ‘B’ and ‘C’ grades during health inspections conducted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The inspections revealed various health violations, prompting follow-up inspections. Notable establishments like Bowdie’s Chophouse, Plum’s Cafe, and La Familia initially scored low but improved significantly in subsequent reinspections. Health regulations are vital for ensuring food safety, and businesses are encouraged to address any cited violations promptly.
Beaufort County Food Businesses Face Low Grades in May Inspections
Beaufort County, S.C. – A total of eleven food businesses in Beaufort County received “B” and “C” grades following health inspections conducted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in May. These inspections, which totaled 244 in the county during the month, highlighted various health and safety violations that prompted follow-up inspections.
Top of the list was Bowdie’s Chophouse, which scored an 85% (B) during its inspection on May 13. Among the infractions noted were the absence of soap and drying towels at the hand-wash sink, the presence of baked-on food debris on clean dishes, and chemicals improperly stored over ready-to-eat foods. Despite these issues, Bowdie’s Chophouse managed to improve its score to 92% (C) after reinspection on May 22 and ultimately achieved a score of 97% (A) on May 30.
Plum’s Cafe also faced similar challenges, initially scoring 78% (B) on May 6 due to employees handling dirty dishes before washing their hands and improper food handling practices. The cafe scored 93% (C) following a reinspection on May 14 and later improved to a grade of 98% (A) on May 21.
Another establishment, Panini’s Cafe, was marked down with a 95% (B) on May 7 but quickly turned around its score to 100% (A) after a reinspection on May 8.
In a particularly concerning case, La Familia scored just 74% (C) on May 15 due to improper hand washing, the sale of home-prepared empanadas, and visible decay of food items. The business rectified these issues, achieving a perfect score of 100% (A) following reinspection on May 21.
La Poblanita Restaurant was cited with a score of 76% (C) on May 19 due to incorrect hand washing, glove changes, and the improper storage of raw meat. It improved significantly to 100% (A) on its reinspection on May 28.
Papaya Thai & Sushi reported a concerning 71% (C) on May 2 for serious violations, including a lack of paper towels at the hand sink. This establishment then scored 93% (C) on May 13 and improved to 100% (A) on May 21 following subsequent inspections.
Other businesses included in this health inspection report were E Tang, which went from 78% (B) to 100% (A) after reinspections, and El Don Juan, which improved from 79% (B) to 100% (A) following a reinspection on May 29. The Olive Garden received an 83% (B) on May 27 and required a reinspection within ten days, while Sub Station II scored slightly better at 82% (B) on May 23 but had not yet been reinspected as of June 2. Yummy House also faced initial downfalls, scoring 78% (B) for improper food handling procedures but later achieved an excellent score of 100% (A) after reinspections on May 16.
Health regulations are enforced to ensure food safety, and businesses are encouraged to address cited violations promptly. The ability to improve scores post-reinspection highlights the importance of compliance with health standards to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Beaufort County Food Businesses Face Low Grades in May Inspections
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- Island Packet: Local Restaurant Health Violations
- Google Search: Restaurant Health Inspections
- AOL: Black Gunk, Rats, Mold in Local Restaurants
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Inspection
- The Assembly: NC Health Inspections for Restaurants
- Google News: Food Business Health Inspections
