News Summary
Recent health inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture highlighted numerous violations at restaurants in Horry and Georgetown County. Among 263 establishments inspected, many received B or C grades due to issues such as improper food handling, inadequate sanitation, and pest control. Notable establishments include Piggly Wiggly and Panda Restaurant, which improved their scores in follow-up inspections. These findings emphasize the critical importance of maintaining food safety standards in the restaurant industry to protect public health.
Conway, South Carolina – A recent series of health inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) uncovered multiple violations at various restaurants in Horry and Georgetown County. Over a two-week period from May 17 to May 30, 263 establishments were assessed, yielding various results, including several notable discrepancies in food safety practices.
Out of the inspected restaurants, 13 received a B grade, while two were marked with a C grade. Only seven establishments scored below the threshold of 88 points necessary for an A grade. The SCDA’s grading system categorizes restaurants as follows: A grades represent scores between 88-100, B grades range from 78-87, and C grades are 77 and below.
Piggly Wiggly and Other Notable Violations
Among the restaurants receiving lower scores were Piggly Wiggly #183 in Surfside Beach, which obtained a score of 78 points, primarily due to serious violations such as employees improperly washing their hands, unlabeled deli meats, and the cold and hot food items not maintained at safe temperatures. Other concerns included a salad bar draining improperly and an unapproved sushi prep area lacking a handsink.
After addressing the issues, Piggly Wiggly saw an improvement in their follow-up inspection on May 30, achieving a score of 98 points by removing the salad bar and shifting sushi preparation to the deli, waiting for further SCDA approval.
Paleteria y Neveria Michoacana and Panda Restaurant
Paleteria y Neveria Michoacana, which scored 79 points during the inspection on May 21, faced similar issues, including a live roach found in the kitchen, hair discovered in a warmer containing cheese sauce, and several handsinks lacking soap. During a follow-up on May 30, the establishment improved to 91 points, though further inspection was required due to improperly drained equipment.
Panda Restaurant in Conway also recorded a score of 79 points, marked by issues such as employees neglecting to wash their hands between tasks and improper food storage practices. However, during a later inspection, Panda Restaurant significantly improved its score to 99 points, suggesting corrective measures were effectively implemented.
SOHO Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar and Yokohama Japanese Express
SOHO Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar received an initial score of 82 points due to violations like the presence of flies and bugs in the kitchen and improper sushi holding temperatures, as well as raw beef stored above fresh produce. In a follow-up inspection the following day, they improved to a perfect score of 100.
Yokohama Japanese Express, which scored 83 points, was cited for incorrect handwashing practices and the thawing of frozen fish in vacuum-sealed packaging, posing serious food safety risks. However, specific corrective actions from the establishment were not detailed in the reports.
Closure of Pawleys Island Tavern and Sewage Issues at Pirate’s Cove
Pawleys Island Tavern faced closure after it scored 84 points due to inadequate refrigeration practices, highlighting significant risks associated with food safety compliance. Meanwhile, Pirate’s Cove experienced momentary shutdowns due to sewage backup issues but subsequently improved its score from 86 to 98 in a follow-up inspection.
The SCDA’s publication of these inspection results underscores the importance of food safety standards in the restaurant industry. Establishments face both penalties and opportunities for improvement based on their adherence to health regulations, emphasizing the need for diligence in food preparation and maintenance procedures to protect public health and safety.
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Additional Resources
- Myrtle Beach Online
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- Island Packet
- Google Search: Restaurant Health Inspections
- Greenville Online
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Inspection
- The State
- Google News: Food Safety Violations
- Greenville Health Inspections
