A live rat in a storage area, white fuzzy growth on squash in a kitchen and open food containers stored directly on floors were among the citations following inspections of Lexington County food service establishments in June.

These observations were among those made at four county establishments that received a C, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, according to reports on the agency’s website. Overall, 104 inspections were conducted in Lexington County last month.

El Mariachi in West Columbia received a 70% grade with multiple priority violations.  KJ’s Market #36 in Columbia received a 98% overall grade, but was given a C due to evidence of rodents. Tacos Locos & Grill in West Columbia received a 73% overall inspection grade with multiple priority violations. Waffle House at 491 Piney Grove Rd. in Columbia received a 76% overall grade with multiple priority violations.

A live rat was observed by the inspector on June 24 during a follow-up inspection at KJ’s Market #36 at 543 St. Andrews Rd. 

The citation notes “evidence of rodents throughout back storage area and in produce area. Observed live rat. Facility states they have seen a possum as well.”

KJ’s #36 was inspected three times by DHEC in June, earning an A on June 9 and a B on June 16 before the C inspection. Despite being given an A on June 9, evidence of rodents was noted with a planned follow-up within 10 days.  The follow-up inspection happened June 16, during which continued rodent evidence and a live rodent were noted.

The market again received a C after a July 1 follow-up, which noted continued evidence of rodents.

El Mariachi, located at 1078 Sunset Blvd., received a C following a routine inspection on June 29. 

The establishment was cited for multiple priority violations and violations that were noted as consecutive, which reports say may be referred to the Enforcement Division.  The violations included bare hands touching ready-to-eat food, lack of hand drying materials available to employees, corn husks stored in a hand sink, fuzzy growth on squash in the walk-in cooler, meat residue on a knife used to cut lime on same cutting board as mea, improper hot and cold food temperatures, opened or prepared food being stored under a refrigerator, and open food containers stored on floor of walk-in cooler without lids.

El Mariachi again received a C after a July 8 follow-up.

Tacos Locos & Grill, located at 103 N 12th St. Suite D, received a C after routine inspection on June 29, with multiple violations noted, including improper washing of hands; food and dirty dishes in hand-washing sink; white, pink and brown buildup in ice machine; flies in the kitchen; and excessive trash on ground in dumpster area.

Tacos Locos received another C after a July 6 follow-up inspection.

Waffle House #326 received a C  after a routine inspection on June 14, with the report citing multiple priority violations.

An improper hand washing citation read, “Observed employees not washing hands between points of contamination with glove changes, when switching from handling dirty dishes to clean, and between raw food & ready to eat.”

Additional violations noted improper dishwashing temperature, improper hot and cold food holding temperatures, improper food date marking procedures, and food case storage on the floor. 

After a follow-up inspection on June 22, the establishment received an A.

Beyond the C grades, of the county’s 104 June inspections by DHEC, 13 (12.5%) resulted in B grades, while 87 (83.7%) resulted in A grades.