News Summary
Recent food inspections in Greenville County from March 7-17, 2023, conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, revealed numerous health violations across several local restaurants. Observations included cockroach infestations and improper food storage conditions. The local health authority emphasizes the importance of restaurant cleanliness and safety, urging diners to check inspection scores before eating out. Numerous establishments faced compliance issues, though many made improvements before follow-up inspections.
Greenville County Food Inspections Reveal Multiple Health Violations in March 2023
Hey there, Greenville! If you’re someone who loves dining out or grabbing a quick bite, you’ll want to pay close attention to the latest news floating out of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). Recently, from March 7-17, 2023, they conducted a round of food inspections across our lovely county, and let’s just say the results were a bit concerning!
What’s Cooking in Greenville?
During this flurry of inspections, several local restaurants were found to have some serious health violations. Picture this: cockroaches scuttling around your favorite eatery, microbial buildup where meals are prepped, and just overall lack of cleanliness. It’s enough to make anyone think twice before digging into that delicious dish!
The SCDA doesn’t mess around when it comes to food safety. They perform over 2,500 inspections every year in our area, and the results are always posted right on the storefronts after each inspection. Restaurants scoring below a 78 (C grade) are especially concerning, as that indicates major improvements are necessary for safe food handling practices.
The March Report Highlights
This March report unveiled some troubling issues, including:
- Food debris buildup, which is a breeding ground for germs
- Improper temperature storage of poultry and dairy products, leading to a higher risk of foodborne illnesses
- Overall risk of contamination that could affect unsuspecting diners
Want some juicy details? Here’s a sneak peek into a few spots that barely scraped past the C grade mark:
Spotlight on Restaurants
Location: 26 S. Main St. (Greenville) – This restaurant initially scored an 81 on March 7 and then improved to 84 by March 17. However, they still had 19 out-of-compliance violations, including 8 foundation violations and 1 priority violation. Thankfully, a follow-up inspection on March 26 had them bump up to a shiny A grade. This establishment has fluctuated in scores since 2022, with a total of 7 A’s, 1 B, and 2 C’s over 10 inspections.
Location: 625 S E Main Street (Simpsonville) – Here, an initial score of 72 on March 13 raised some eyebrows. They had 15 out-of-compliance violations, with 7 being foundation violations and 6 priority violations. A follow-up on March 20 brought them back to an impressive A grade. Since 2021, this location has garnered 10 A’s and 3 B’s over 13 inspections. Talk about a comeback!
Location: 700 Haywood Road, STE 2047 C (Greenville) – Scoring a 74 on March 14, this spot racked up 13 out-of-compliance violations, which included 3 foundation and 5 priority violations. As of March 10, their follow-up report wasn’t published yet. Over the past two years, they have a record of 3 A’s and 2 B’s from 5 inspections.
What Happens Next?
For restaurants that do receive a less-than-stellar grade, it’s not the end of the road! They have 10 days to rectify the violations and can schedule a re-inspection to improve their score. For instance, places like Jamacia Mi Irie and Carolina Fine Foods have shown remarkable progress, bouncing back with multiple A grades after addressing their initial violations.
Food safety and sanitation are no joke, and the SCDA is committed to ensuring that the eateries around Greenville County meet the best standards. So the next time you’re at a restaurant, remember to look for those inspection scores displayed right at the entrance!
Stay safe and happy dining, Greenville!
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: March Restaurant Inspections
- AOL: Greenville Health Violations
- Greenville Online: February Restaurant Inspections
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Safety
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
