News Summary
Six food establishments in Beaufort County and two in Jasper County received low grades during recent health inspections by the S.C. DHEC. The scores, assigned based on food safety standards, fell into ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories, indicating various sanitation issues. Notable restaurants, such as Cabritos Mexican Restaurant and Captain Woody’s Bar & Grill, faced multiple violations but showed improvements after reinspections. New regulations allow customers to access health reports easily through QR code decals. The local community remains vigilant about food safety as inspections continue.
Beaufort, SC — Six food establishments in Beaufort County and two in Jasper County received low health inspection grades, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reports for April 2023. The graded restaurants fell into the “B” and “C” categories, indicating various sanitation and safety issues that could affect consumer health.
The evaluation process involved 205 inspections in Beaufort County and 40 in Jasper County during the month of April, with grades assigned based on compliance with food safety standards. Grading criteria include aspects such as food handling practices, employee hygiene, and the management of kitchen equipment.
The following establishments in Beaufort County received varying grades:
Cabritos Mexican Restaurant
On April 23, Cabritos Mexican Restaurant scored 83% (B). Notable issues included a hand-wash sink holding dirty equipment, improper sanitation during dishwashing, a hot line stove not set at the appropriate temperature for cooking meat, and improperly stored food with broken seals. Following a reinspection on April 25, the restaurant improved its score to 100% (A).
Captain Woody’s Bar & Grill
Receiving a score of 84% (B) on April 25, Captain Woody’s Bar & Grill had several critical complaints. Among these were employees failing to wash hands before handling food, improper thawing methods, and unsanitary conditions near clean glassware. As of May 1, the restaurant had not undergone a reinspection, which is required within 10 days of the initial inspection.
Celeste
Celeste earned a score of 82% (B) on April 3, with issues including a lack of shellstock tags and reheating procedures not correctly implemented. The restaurant had no date marking system and thawed raw ingredients at unsafe ambient temperatures. A reinspection report had not been posted as of May 1.
La Cabinita
Another establishment, La Cabinita, scored 78% (B) on April 7. Issues here included a kitchen sink without warm water, improper food storage, and temperature control violations for hot-holding food. A reinspection revealed some improvement, with the restaurant scoring 86% (C) on April 15. However, a follow-up inspection is also mandated within 10 days of this assessment.
Lowcountry Produce
Lowcountry Produce received a score of 82% (B) on its inspection conducted on April 3. Significant problems noted included thawing raw shrimp and hot dogs together, a lack of a date marking system for ready-to-eat foods, and the presence of pests, among others. A reinspection on April 11 yielded a score of 90% (A), indicating successful corrective measures.
Taqueria Las Abuelitas
On April 28, Taqueria Las Abuelitas received a score of 83% (B) during its inspection. Violations included a hand-washing sink lacking hot water and improper date marking usage. As of May 1, no reinspection had occurred, but one is required within the specified 10 days.
Agave Azul Tacos and Tequila
Agave Azul received a score of 83% (B) on April 8, with issues such as no handwashing soap available and improper storage of food items. After a reinspection on April 18, the restaurant improved to a 100% (A) grade, demonstrating compliance with health standards.
Burrito Express Mexican Grill
Burrito Express Mexican Grill scored 85% (B) on April 25, facing complaints related to insufficient hand-drying items, eggs stored at ambient temperatures, and improper handling of food storage. As of May 1, the establishment had not been reinspected, which will occur within the required 10-day period.
In South Carolina, restaurants are assigned grades ranging from A, indicating 88% to 100% compliance, to C, which denotes 77% compliance or lower. New regulations have implemented food-grade decals that feature QR codes, allowing customers to easily access the latest health inspection reports for restaurants.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: April 2023 Health Inspections
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- The Assembly: NC Health Inspections
- Google Search: Restaurant Health Inspections
- Island Packet: Local News Article
- Google Scholar: Food Inspection Grades
- The State: Local News Article
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Safety
- Island Packet: Health Inspection Report
- Google News: Restaurant Sanitation Standards
