News Summary
In May, Beaufort County’s health inspections revealed troubling results, with eleven food establishments receiving ‘B’ and ‘C’ grades. This was part of a total of 244 inspections conducted. Notably, Jasper County saw no businesses scoring lower than an ‘A’. Key offenders included Bowdie’s Chophouse and Papaya Thai & Sushi, both of which improved after follow-up inspections. The DHEC highlights the need for better health standards, with consumers urged to review inspection results available online.
Beaufort County Reports Low Grades in Food Business Health Inspections
Beaufort County experienced a concerning trend in May as eleven food businesses received “B” and “C” grades following health inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). These results came from a total of 244 inspections completed during the month. In stark contrast, none of the food establishments in Jasper County received grades lower than an “A”.
The grading system used in the inspections assigns letter grades to food businesses based on their overall score, which ranges from A to C. Specifically, an A grade indicates a score of 88% to 100%, a B grade reflects a score of 78% to 87%, and a C grade signifies 77% or less.
Inspections and Violations
Several restaurants received specific grades along with noted violations that led to their ratings. Key establishments included:
- Bowdie’s Chophouse: Initially scored 85% on May 13, citing multiple issues such as unlabelled chemical spray bottles and lack of soap at the hand-wash sink. Following a series of reinspections, it eventually scored 97%.
- Plum’s Cafe: Recorded 78% and various violations including improper handwashing and food temperature issues on May 6. After follow-up inspections, it improved to 98%.
- Papaya Thai & Sushi: Scored 71% on May 2 due to serious violations such as live roaches. After subsequent reinspections, it was rated with an A and 100%.
- Olive Garden: Inspected on May 27, it scored 83% with problems like blocked hand-wash sinks. Reinspections are pending as of June 2.
- Yummy House: Though it had a lower score reported on May 8, it managed to achieve 100% after reinspections just over a week later.
Other establishments that recorded lower scores, like La Familia and La Poblanita Restaurant, faced multiple infractions but managed to improve significantly after follow-up inspections, each ending with an A grade.
Health Inspector Processes
The inspections conducted by DHEC assess food establishments based on a comprehensive scoring system that evaluates various aspects of food safety and cleanliness. Facilities deemed to have serious health violations may receive C grades, indicating immediate attention is needed to rectify the issues present. Reinspections are common, and many establishments show improvement after addressing the cited problems.
Consumers can access health inspection results published by DHEC on their official website, which now includes QR codes for quick access to reports on food businesses. For additional concerns regarding food safety, individuals are encouraged to submit a food safety complaint form, allowing for further inspection requests.
Conclusion
In summary, the recent findings from Beaufort County’s food business inspections highlight the importance of maintaining health standards in food service establishments. With a marked number of businesses receiving low grades, both the health department and consumers are urged to remain vigilant regarding food safety and hygiene practices within the community.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Beaufort County Reports Low Grades in Food Business Health Inspections
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- AOL: Health Inspection Findings
- Google Search: Health Inspections Restaurants
- Island Packet: Low Inspection Scores and Violations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Safety
- The Assembly: NC Health Inspections of Restaurants
- Google News: Beaufort County Food Inspections
