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Food & Lodging
Inspections
Food Service Establishments are inspected at a frequency determined by the risks to the population served by the establishment and the type of food or drink served by the establishment. No establishment shall commence or continue operation without a permit or transitional permit issued by the Department.
Food and Lodging Inspections
Listed below are links to the most recent food and lodging sanitation inspections for Graham County establishments in 2019. As more inspections are complete, this list will be expanded.
- A Kids Place
- Appalachian Inn
- Backyard Preschool
- Blue Waters Mountain Lodge
- Blue Waters Mountain Lodge Dining
- Cafe De Olla
- Crown Food Mart
- Dagon's Rest Cabins
- Doodle Bug Daycare
- Eagle Knob Early Education and Preschool - CLOSED
- El Pacifico
- Four Square Head Start
- Graham Coffee Company
- Graham County Jail
- Graham County Senior Center
- Graham Healthcare and Rehab Center Kitchen
- Hell Bender Pitstop - No longer inspected by the Health Department
- The Hub - CLOSED
- The Hub Food Trailer - CLOSED
- Huddle House - CLOSED
- Hunt Brothers Pizza
- Ingles Deli
- Ingles Meat Market
- Iron Horse Restaurant
- Iron Horse Cabins
- Jeb's Corner Market
- Kanvwotiyi Kitchen
- Karmas Creations - CLOSED
- Lynn's Place
- McDonalds
- Moonshiners Steakhouse - CLOSED
- Mountain View Bistro - No longer inspected by the Health Department
- Papas Pizza
- Passage
- Phillip's Historic Motel and Cottages
- Pop and Nanas - CLOSED
- Quality Inn & Suites Dining
- RHS Childcare
- Rivers Edge Tree House Resort
- Robbinsville Middle School & High School Cafeteria
- Robbinsville Elementary School Cafeteria
- Sacred Choice Cafe
- San-Ran Motel
- Skyway Convenience
- Smokin' Flavorz - CLOSED
- Snowbird Child Development
- Snowbird Mountain Lodge (lodging inspection)
- Snowbird Mountain Lodge (restaurant inspection)
- Snowbird Senior Citizens Center
- Southern Gals
- Stecoah Diner - CLOSED
- Stecoah Valley Food Ventures
- Stone Creek Grill - No longer inspected by the Health Department
- Subway
- T.Dubbs
- Tapoco Lodge
- Tapoco Tavern
- Twin Oaks
- Two Wheel Inn
- Wendys
- Wildwood Grill - No longer inspected by the Health Department
- Willow Tree
- Wolf Creek Den
Permits
The permit or transitional permit shall be issued to the owner or operator of the establishment and shall not be transferable. All New, remodeled, or establishments adding new equipment, must submit plans, drawn to scale, equipment specification sheets, menu and a completed Restaurant Plan Review Application.
- Requirements for Food Service Establishments (PDF)
- Requirements for Temporary Food Establishments (PDF)
- Restaurant/Food Truck Application (PDF)
- Temporary Food Establishment Application (PDF)
Serv Safe
ServSafe is a Food Safety Certification Course developed by the Education Foundation of the National Restaurant Association. This course is designed for food service managers and supervisory staff in restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, child care facilities, and other food-handling establishments. ServSafe is now required for all food service establishments.
Inspections
Childcare centers are inspected twice during a fiscal year. Childcare centers are defined as a program where three or more children less than 13 years old, who do not reside where the care is provided, receive care on a regular basis of a least once per week for more than 4 hours but less than 24 hours per day from persons other than their guardians or full time custodians, or from persons not related to them by birth, marriage, or adoption. There are exceptions to the rule and you can contact this department for them.
The facility must be either hooked up to a public water system or well water. If the facility is connected to well water, then a water sample (PDF) must be taken prior to opening.
Sewage shall be disposed of into either a proper on-site sewage system or public waste water system. If your facility has an on-site sewage system, a tank check is required to ensure that the existing system is sized properly.
Approval of Construction & Renovation Plans
- Construction and modifications shall comply with the approved plans.
- Plans drawn to scale and specifications for new child care centers shall be submitted to the local health department for review and approval prior to initiating construction. Plans drawn to scale and specifications for changes to building dimensions, kitchen specifications, or other modifications to existing child care centers shall also be submitted to the local health department for review and approval prior to construction. Plans drawn to scale and specifications for prototype "franchise" or "chain" child care centers shall be submitted to DENR, Division of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Services Section, Children's Environmental Health Branch. When requested by an operator of a center or by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the local health department shall visit or inspect an existing or proposed center, within 30 days of the request, to determine compliance with this Section.
- Review of the plans by the local health department or the Environmental Health Services Section shall be based on the requirements of this Section.
Definition
"Nursing home" means a facility, however named, which is advertised, announced, or maintained for the express or implied purpose of providing nursing or convalescent care for three or more persons unrelated to the licensee. A "nursing home" is a home for chronic or convalescent patients who, on admission, are not as a rule, acutely ill and who do not usually require special facilities such as an operating room, X-ray facilities, laboratory facilities, and obstetrical facilities.
A "nursing home" provides care for persons who have remedial ailments or other ailments, for which medical and nursing care are indicated; who, however, are not sick enough to require general hospital care. Nursing care is their primary need, but they will require continuing medical supervision.
Approval of Plans
In addition to any other licensure requirements, plans shall be submitted to the local health department for review and approval before beginning construction. Construction shall comply with the Rules of this Section.
Inspections
- Institutions shall be graded once each six months and food services at institutions that prepare and serve meals to 13 or more patients or residents shall be inspected at least once each quarter.
- The grading of institutions shall be done on inspection forms furnished by the Department to local health departments. The form shall include the following information:
- The name and address of the facility
- The name of the person in charge of the facility
- The score
- The signature of the authorized agent of the Department
- The standards of construction and operation as listed in.1309 through 1324 of this Section
- Whether or not a permit is required under G.S. 130A-248, inspections of food preparation and central dining areas in institutions serving meals to 13 or more patients or residents shall be documented separately using the inspection forms and grading system used for grading restaurants as specified in current "Rules Governing the Sanitation of Restaurants and Other Foodhandling Establishments" 15A NCAC 18A.2600. When grading the food preparation and central dining areas of institutional food services that are not required to obtain a permit under G.S. 130A-248, the provisions of Rule.1323
- Of this Section shall supercede the provisions of Rule 15A NCAC 18A.2610
- Regarding animals in dining areas. Except as required by G.S. 130A-247 through 250, food services at institutions shall not be required to obtain foodhandling establishment permits. Facilities that the "Rules Governing the Sanitation of Restaurants and Other Foodhandling Establishments" are made effective by the rules of this Section that were in operation before March 1, 2003 may continue to use equipment and construction in use on that date if no imminent hazard exists. Points shall not be deducted from the food service sanitation score for existing equipment that is kept clean and performs the task for which it is used. Replacement equipment for these facilities shall comply with 15A NCAC 18A.2600.
Water Supply
- Cross-connections with sewage lines, non-potable water supplies, or other potential sources of contamination are prohibited.
- Hot water heating facilities shall be provided. Hot and cold running water under pressure shall be provided to food preparation areas, and to any other areas where water is required in sufficient quantities to carry out all operations.
- In institutions that use a non-community water supply, a sample of water shall be collected by the Department at least once a year and submitted to the Division of Laboratory Services or other laboratory certified by the Department to perform bacteriological examinations.
- The local health department shall be immediately notified if the primary water supply is interrupted for more than four hours. Each institution shall have a plan to obtain a backup water supply in the event that the water supply is lost for more than four hours. The backup water supply plan shall provide for two liters of water per day per person for drinking. The backup water supply plan shall include a plan for either relocating residents or providing an alternative source of water for essential functions such as food preparation, hand washing, bathing, cleaning, dishwashing, laundry and disposal of bodily waste. The amount of water provided for uses other than drinking may be reduced if the plan includes alternatives for water use for services such as laundry and dishwashing. If an assessment determines that tap water is not to be used for drinking, sources shall be prominently labeled or hooded to restrict use and potable water shall be provided.
- Non-community public water supplies shall be listed with the Public Water Supply Section, Division of Environmental Health.
- Water supplies at institutions shall meet the requirements in 15A NCAC 18C or 15A NCAC 18A.1700.
Liquid Wastes
All wastewater shall be disposed of in accordance with 15A NCAC 18A.1900 or 15A NCAC 02H.0200.
Solid Wastes
- All dry rubbish (including scrap paper, cardboard boxes, packing crates, etc.) shall be stored in containers, rooms, or designated areas.
- All solid wastes containing food scraps or other decomposable materials shall, prior to disposal, be kept in leak-proof, non-absorbent containers, such as standard garbage cans, which shall be kept covered with tight-fitting lids when filled or stored, or not in continual use; provided that such containers need not be covered when stored in a special vermin-proofed room, such as a refrigerated garbage room, or enclosure.
- All solid wastes shall be disposed of with sufficient frequency and in such a manner as to prevent insect breeding or public health nuisances.
- Medical wastes shall be handled and disposed of as required in North Carolina "Solid Waste Management Rules" 15A NCAC 13B.1200 Medical Waste Management.
- The rooms, enclosures, designated areas, and containers shall be adequate for the storage of all solid wastes accumulating on the premises. Cleaning facilities for waste containers shall be provided. Containers, rooms, or designated areas shall be kept clean.
Definition
"Residential care facility" means an establishment providing room or board and for which a license or certificate for payment is obtained from the Department of Human Resources. However, the term shall not include a child day care facility or an institution as defined in 15A NCAC 18A.1300.
Approval of Plans
Plans and specifications for new construction or modification of residential care facilities, except family foster homes, shall be submitted to the agency designated by the state licensure regulations and to the local health department for review and approval before beginning construction.
Inspections
Inspections of residential care facilities shall be made by the Department at least once a year prior to the expiration of the license. Inspections are required for family foster homes only for those homes served by individual or non-community water supplies or on-site sewage systems. A copy of the inspection form shall be provided to the person in charge of the facility. If conditions found at the time of the inspection are dangerous to the health of the residents, the agency supervising the family foster home shall be notified immediately by telephone or other direct means by the sanitarian.
Grading
The grading of residential care facilities shall be based upon the standards of construction and operation set out in Rules.1607 through 1621 of this Section; however, family foster homes are required to comply only with Rule.1611(a) and (b) and Rule.1613 of this Section.
The grade of the facility shall be classified as follows:
- As approved if the demerit score is 20 or less and no six demerit point item is violated
- As disapproved if the demerit score is more than 40, if the conditions found are dangerous to the health of the residents, or if the conditions resulting in the provisional classification have not been corrected within the specified time
- As provisional if any six demerit point item is violated, or if the demerit score is more than 20 but not more than 40; The duration of such classification shall not exceed seven days; provided, that a longer period may be established if construction or renovation is involved
The facility must be either hooked up to a public water system or well water. If the facility is connected to well water, then a water sample (PDF) must be taken prior to opening.
Sewage shall be disposed of into either a proper on-site sewage system or public waste water system. If your facility has an on-site sewage system, a tank check is required to ensure that the existing system is sized properly.
Definition
"Public school" means a school supported by public funds appropriated by the General Assembly of North Carolina, by the federal government, and through local governmental sources.
Inspections
- If the conditions found at the time of the inspection of a private or religious school are dangerous to the health of the students, or if an imminent hazard exists, the sanitarian shall notify the Office of Non-Public Education, immediately by telephone or other direct means. A copy of the inspection report shall be immediately forwarded to that office.
Office of Non-Public Education
532 N Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27604 - If the conditions found at the time of the inspection of a public school are dangerous to the health of the students, or if an imminent hazard exists, the sanitarian shall notify the office of the local superintendent immediately by telephone or other direct means. A copy of the inspection report shall be immediately forwarded to the local and state superintendents.
- An inspection of each school shall be made by the Department at least once a year to determine compliance with this Section.
- An inspection report shall be completed by the sanitarian upon completion of the inspection.
Water Supply
- Backflow connections and cross-connections with unapproved water supplies are prohibited.
- Hot and cold running water under pressure shall be provided to food preparation areas, and any other areas in which water is required for operations and maintenance cleaning.
- The water supply shall be from an approved source and shall be adequate and of a safe, sanitary quality.
- The water supply used shall be located, constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the Commission for Health Services' rules governing water supplies. Copies of 15A NCAC 18A.1700 and 15A NCAC 18C may be obtained from the Department. A sample of water from a private or public non-community water supply serving a school shall be collected by the sanitarian and submitted at least once a year to the Division of Laboratory Services or other laboratory certified by the Department to perform bacteriological examination.
- The well house shall be kept clean and free of storage.
Sanitary Sewage Disposal
All sewage and other liquid wastes shall be disposed of in a public sewer system or, in the absence of a public sewer system, by an approved, properly operating sanitary sewage system.