Restaurant tried to stop rodents with duct tape. It didn’t work, Beaufort Co. reports say
.jpg "The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control conducted 152 health inspections of Beaufort County restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in August 2023.")
Two Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” grades in August health inspections by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:
The Dataw Island Clubhouse, 100 Dataw Club Road in Beaufort, scored an 82% (B) on Aug. 2 in a routine inspection that was the result of a public complaint. Issues noted by inspectors included: A prep cook drinking from an open cup while preparing food; problems with cold food holding temperatures, cooling procedures and thawing procedures; caramelized onions and packaged house-made meatballs held past their seven-day date mark; a working spray bottle of cleaner without the common name on the bottle; holes in the ceiling of the dry storage room, allowing the entry of rodents and other pests, partially sealed with metal dish-scrubbing pads, spray foam and duct tape; evidence of rodents in the dry storage room; wiping cloths stored on the floor, used to wipe up spills on the floor, and used as a liner for sushi rice; several soiled wiping cloths on the counters of the cookline; hood filters with a heavy accumulation of yellow grease and grime; and ceiling air-handler covers with black, hanging dust.
The clubhouse was reinspected on Aug. 11 and scored a 98% (B). This grade normally would merit an A grade, but the report said this: “Facility has corrected all violations except at line #36. Controlling Pests. Facility has replaced all of the ceiling tiles and filled in holes in the storage room ceiling. Rodent activity noted despite improvements. Facility will take further steps to eradicated the problem within the next 10 days.”
The clubhouse was inspected again on Aug. 18 and scored a 100% (A).
Tiger Express #20, 375 Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, scored an 83% (B) on Aug. 4 in a routine inspection. Among the issues noted in the report: An employee eating upon arrival continuing to prep food without washing hands; soda nozzles with heavy accumulation of black organic matter; cooking and baking equipment stored in a bucket under the prep table with accumulation of grease and food debris; inside of microwave unclean; food employee washing dishes without a sanitizer step and in milky, orange-colored dishwater; no date-marking policy in place for food; a ripped strainer with sharp angles and pieces of wire sticking out; a three-compartment sink faucet, sprayer and basin with an accumulation of soap scum and grease; ice build-up and fans with an accumulation of dust in the walk-in freezer; the counter behind the fountain station with an excessive build-up of dried food debris and grime; hood filters corroded with fryer dust; and a light with a broken shield in both the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer.
The convenience store was reinspected on Aug. 15 and scored a 100% (A).
What the grades mean
Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.
- A: 88% to 100%
- B: 78% to 87%
- C: 77% or less
During August, DHEC recorded 152 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.
Newer food grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.
Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from Aug. 1-31, 2023.
At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month’s inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.
