Rodent feces, expired meat and more: the latest worst Myrtle Beach area restaurant violations
The latest round of restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, found rodent droppings, expired meat and more.
In general, SCDA gives restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 points A grades, restaurants scoring 78-87 points B grades and restaurants scoring 77 points or fewer C grades.
However, the department sometimes lowers grades for restaurants that have consecutive violations, are under enforcement action or are under pending enforcement actions, including imminent health hazards, permit suspensions or permit revocations.
Of the 186 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Jan. 16 and Jan. 30, SCDA gave five restaurants B grades and one restaurant a C grades. Of those six establishments, only four actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
2246 Highway 501 E., Units A and B, Conway, SC 29526
Score: 72
At a routine inspection of Spice C in Conway on Jan. 28, the inspector observed hair on the side of a bowl on the cook line, crab rangoons not marked with dates for safe consumption, employees reusing single-use styrofoam containers, maintenance tools stored over the food prep table and sinks that were blocked or not stocked with soap.
Other violations included lettuce held at insufficiently cold temperatures, cooked chicken and pot stickers improperly cooled, raw shrimp improperly thawed and buckets of unopened noodles stored on the floor.
The report also notes that containers without handles were used to scoop food, the scoop in the ice machine was stuck handle-down in the ice, the freezer had ice buildup and food debris, and the fridge was lined with porous materials like cardboard and unsealed wood that can’t be sanitized. A follow-up inspection is required on or before Feb. 7.
945 Park Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 78
At a Jan. 28 routine inspection of Taqueria Flores, the person in charge didn’t have a minimum food handling certification, ready-to-eat foods like salsa and cooked zucchini were stored for more than 24 hours without dates marked for safe consumption and cooked beef held without times marked to indicate when it should be discarded. and salsas were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures.
The inspector also observed salsas stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, an employee washing but not sanitizing dishes, cleaning rags not sanitized between uses, improperly cooled rice and improperly thawed foods. A follow-up inspection will be conducted on Feb. 7.
4245 Socastee Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Score: 79
A routine inspection of the Socastee location of La Olanchana on Jan. 30 found several violations, including ready-to-eat foods like cooked beef and chicken past their marked expiration dates, bulk cheese broken into smaller portions and stored in Ziploc bags for resale without labels or dates marked for safe consumption, improperly thawed raw beef and dirty equipment stored on shelves.
The inspector also observed a buildup of grease between the fryer and stove, sinks without hot water, unapproved shelving that can’t be easily cleaned and an accumulation of debris under coolers, freezers and shelves,
Other violations included employees with unrestrained hair and an employee with long, painted nails handling food. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Feb. 9.
2499 Highway 9 Business E., Loris, SC 29569
Score: 78
At a Jan. 27 routine inspection of Money Saver in Loris, the inspector observed rodent droppings on shelves, food-contact cabinets made of unsealed wood–which can’t be sanitized, chemicals stored with utensils and dirty shelves, floors, grill equipment and sink compartments.
A follow-up inspection will be conducted on Feb. 6.