‘Large amount of dead pests,’ dirty ice: Latest Charlotte restaurant inspections
An east Charlotte restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and no date markings on food.
Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish (8006 Cambridge Commons Dr. in Charlotte) received an 87% score during an inspection on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Inspectors cited the restaurant after finding a “large amount of dead pests” in the back of the restaurant, county documents show, noting that “pests were in traps as well as in the back maintenance closet.”
The restaurant was also dinged after inspectors discovered there were no expiration date markings on nearly all foods that require it. According to county documents, the restaurant did not have a system in place for properly date marking perishable food.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- Employee preparing food after handling raw meat
- Raw fish stored over ready-to-eat cabbage
- “Heavy buildup” on wall-mounted potato slicer
- “Buildup of gray and black soil” inside ice machine
- Employee cooking with no head covering
- “Heavy buildup of dust and debris” on kitchen equipment
This is the restaurant’s third “B” grade. The most recent prior case occurred in April 2024.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 121 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 23-29.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ One restaurant received B grades, or scores of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
How to search NC restaurant inspection scores
Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.
You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The News & Observer previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated. According to state law, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant receives a score of less than 70%.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Mecklenburg County at public.cdpehs.com.
Most common restaurant violations
The Charlotte Observer previously spoke to Adam Dietrich, a local food safety expert, about five of the most common food safety violations restaurants get dinged for during health inspections:
- Handwashing lapses are common: Inspectors frequently cite workers for skipping required handwashing or recontaminating hands, a major risk for spreading illnesses like norovirus, Salmonella and E. coli.
- “Performative” glove use causes problems: Gloves are often misused, either by not changing them between tasks or worn instead of washing hands, which can spread bacteria just as easily as bare hands.
- 41°F is the cold-holding cutoff: The North Carolina Food Code requires cold foods to be held at 41 degrees or below, since bacteria multiply rapidly above that threshold and can reach dangerous levels within hours.
- Improper storage leads to cross-contamination: Limited space and poor organization can result in raw food juices dripping onto other foods, a known cause of outbreaks, prompting strict storage rules in the food code.
- Lack of food safety training costs points: Restaurants are often penalized for missing certifications or inadequate staff training in hygiene, allergens and safe food handling, issues experts say are preventable with proper education.
