You've seen the scores, and some are much lower than what students get on pop quizzes.
The inspection grades received by S.C. restaurants help customers gauge how well food establishments meet state guidelines concerning cleanliness, food handling, upkeep of equipment and other factors critical to food safety.
Therefore, the thought of reducing the number of surprise inspections doesn't sit well with some. But the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has lost $1.5 million from its budget and has to trim it somewhere.
DHEC has announced cuts that could mean retail food establishments would be subject to one - instead of two - unannounced inspection a year beginning July 1, said Thom Berry, a spokesman for the agency.
"If they decide to have fewer inspections, it would be very unfortunate," said David McMillan, an owner of Drunken Jack's Restaurant and Inlet Affairs Catering in Murrells Inlet. "There are a lot of operators that aren't as savvy. They cut a lot of corners, and I think it could be a danger to the public."
Tom Sponseller, president of the S.C. Hospitality Association based in Columbia, said most restaurants regulate their safety practices carefully because they know an outbreak of foodborne illness would ruin business.
Tom Eshleman, the DHEC food program supervisor for Region Six (Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties), said three to four unannounced inspections per restaurant annually is his department's aim.
"If fewer inspections are done, the level of sanitation will drop," Eshleman said.
Bill and Patty Taylor of Conway don't eat out much, but they pay close attention to inspection grades when they do.
"My sister-in-law told us not to eat at restaurants that have grades lower than 97," Patty Taylor said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Contact JOHANNA D. WILSON at 626-0324.