When do SC inspectors force a restaurant to close? Here’s what to know
If you’ve ever eaten out at a restaurant, there’s a chance that you’ve noticed a posted card displaying a letter grade that reflects the sanitation score of the establishment.
While these cards help provide a quick snapshot of a restaurant’s sanitation status, have you ever wondered how the scores are calculated, or what the final number displayed in the restaurant actually means?
Even more, what happens if a restaurant scores too low or puts customers at risk?
Here’s what to know about how the inspections, grading, violations and enforcement work for restaurants across South Carolina.
Who is responsible for inspections?
As of July 2024, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture is the lead agency responsible for restaurant inspections in the state, replacing the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The SCDA conducts risk-based inspections on approximately 24,000 food establishments statewide. These inspections focus on critical factors such as employee hygiene, food sourcing, temperature controls and equipment cleanliness.
Why do they perform inspections?
Restaurant inspections in South Carolina are designed to prevent foodborne illness by identifying and correcting safety violations before they pose a risk to the public.
Enforcement actions like civil penalties and permit suspensions are used when repeated violations occur and/or when previous attempts to gain compliance have failed.
The purpose of enforcement from inspections is to gain long-term correction to a potential food safety hazard.
Each inspection results in a numerical score, calculated by subtracting weighted violations from a perfect score of 100. These scores provide a sampling of how well a facility is managing key risk factors, including food temperatures, cleanliness, sourcing and employee health protocols.
When does the SCDA determine that a location must be closed?
The agency has the authority to shut down restaurants under three primary conditions:
Imminent Health Hazards: If inspectors discover serious public health threats such as a major pest infestation, fire, flooding or contaminated water supply, the restaurant may be closed immediately. Facilities may voluntarily close if such hazards are suspected, but cannot reopen without official approval from the SCDA.
Low Scores on Inspections: When a retail food establishment’s routine inspection score is in the Grade C range or lower, a subsequent routine inspection must be performed within 60 calendar days. If the facility cannot immediately fix key violations, it may be required to cease operations, either voluntarily or by the SCDA. Continued noncompliance during follow-up inspections may result in permit suspension.
Repeated Violations: Establishments referred to Enforcement for a third time, especially those with prior or pending enforcement actions, face mandatory 5-day permit suspensions regardless of the nature of the current violation.
How often do restaurants need to be inspected?
In South Carolina, inspection frequency depends on an establishment’s risk level and are largely based on an establishment’s food processes and its compliance history.
On average, facilities are inspected between one and four times per year.
Each score is a snapshot in time based on how a retail food establishment handles the main risk factors related to employee behaviors and preparation practices. These include:
Food contact equipment cleanliness
Cooking temperatures
Employee health
Food sources
Food holding temperatures
All inspection reports are available on the SC Food Grades page.
What the grades mean
Inspectors give restaurants a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for various infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score in a re-inspection.
The grade scale is as follows:
A: 88% to 100%
B: 78% to 87%
C: 77% or less
How to request an inspection
If there is an establishment for which you wish to request an inspection, you can submit a concern to the SCDA by filling out this Food Safety Complaint Form.
To learn more about the inspection process, violations and grading, visit the SCDA Retail Food Establishments regulations page.
