Beaufort County Food Businesses Receive B Grades Due to Health Inspection Violations
In Beaufort County, South Carolina, six food establishments have recently received “B” grades during health inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) in September. These grades have been assigned based on the health and safety conditions observed during the routine inspections. Let’s dive into some of these findings and what they mean for your next meal!
Amigos, Bluffton
Amigos, located at 133 Belfair Village Drive, scored an 86% (B) on September 17. Inspectors noted several issues, including a food handler washing utensils and storage pans without a necessary sanitizing step. There were also multiple ready-to-eat (RTE) items, like heat-treated pinto beans and pork carnitas, that were not date-marked, meaning their freshness couldn’t be guaranteed. Fortunately, after addressing these concerns, Amigos was reinspected a day later and jumped to an A with a score of 97%.
Brays Island Inn/Restaurant
Next up is Brays Island Inn at 100 William Campbell Road, which ended with a 79% (B) on September 18. Inspectors found that an employee was handling food, specifically lettuce and lunch meat, with bare hands, which is a big no-no in food safety! There were also some issues regarding washed dishes not being properly sanitized and some foods not held at the right temperatures. After improvements were made, Brays Island retested on September 24 and scored a perfect A with 100%.
La Poblanita Restaurant
La Poblanita, located at 4490 Bluffton Park Park Crescent, didn’t fare as well with a score of 78% (B) on September 24. Inspectors identified numerous violations, such as unclean food storage pans and foods being held outside minimum temperature limits. The restaurant was also faced with a heavy presence of flies and roach activity. The facility was slated for a follow-up inspection within ten days, but the report was still not available at press time.
Local Pie
Another popular spot, Local Pie at 15 State of Mind St., scored 87% (B) on September 17. They had issues, including food handlers drinking from open cups near food prep areas and problems with their ice machine’s cleanliness. Despite these problems, Local Pie quickly turned things around, scoring a 100% (A) on a follow-up inspection the very next day!
Taco Fiesta
Taco Fiesta, located at 4 Oliver Count, managed to score 85% (B) in their September 25 inspection. Some issues included inadequate temperatures for certain food items and a hand sink that was blocked and lacked appropriate signage. A follow-up inspection is scheduled, and many are eager to see improvements.
Young’s BBQ
Finally, Young’s BBQ, located at 258 Red Cedar St., had a 98% (B) initially but maintained a B grade due to ongoing violations like the absence of a certified food protection manager on duty. Their follow-up inspection on September 19 saw a score of 97% (A), showing that they were on the right track.
Jasper County’s Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant
A quick note from Jasper County shows that Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant earned a 79% (B) on September 11 for similar safety violations, like food not held at safe temperatures. After another inspection, they received an 86% (C) after correcting some of the issues.
In Conclusion
It’s important for diners to be aware of these scores as they often reflect the overall safety and quality of the food. As restaurants work diligently to correct any issues noted during inspections, it’s a great reminder to always consider health and safety when choosing where to eat. Health inspectors conducted 321 inspections in Beaufort County and 46 in Jasper County throughout September, making sure our local eateries maintain high standards! Remember to check these grades before heading out for dinner—your health may depend on it!
