The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food and Drug Protection Division conducts inspections of inspections of food manufacturers, warehouses and distributors. When unsanitary conditions are present, the division sends a letter to the responsible party requesting a remedy to the situation.
Linked below, in alphabetical order, are letters and responses from 35 grocers, bakers and food processing plants across the state from August 2008 to March 2009.
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Amber Grains Bakery, Charlotte
Live and dead grain beetles were present in flour, oats and wheat products, according to the letter dated Sept. 26, 2008. The company has since gone out of business.
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Beverly's Gourmet Foods, Harrisburg
Salad and casserole containers were improperly labeled, according to a letter dated March 9, 2009.
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Cinnabon, Triangle Town Center, Raleigh
The chief complaint was cockroaches, in a letter dated Aug. 7, 2008. Local management said the issued was "solved within days." The most recent inspection, Oct. 1, 2008, found no violations.
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Coward's Red and White, Trenton
An inspection on July 28, 2008, found out-of-date infant formula and live fruit flies in a produce display. No violations were found at the last inspection, conducted Oct. 10, 2008.
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Dellinger Grist Mill, Bakersville
An inspection on Sept. 15 and 17 prompted the recall of plain, white unsifted cournmeal. In a follow-up inspection on Oct. 6, the facility and its product were found to be in compliance. No violations were found at the most recent inspection, conducted Oct. 23, 2008.
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El Campo Produce, Charlotte
Salmonella was found in samples of avocados and jalapenos from taken from the plant on July 9. No additional action is pending.
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Fire from the Mountain, Inc., Candler
Review of a label for hot sauce. No issue found, according to a March 9, 2009, letter.
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Food Lion, Capital Boulevard, Raleigh
A letter dated Oct. 6, 2008, cited moths and larvae on retail shelves. In a response, the company says: "We take this matter very seriously, and we immediately took action to correct the moth control problem at this store."
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Great Harvest Bread Company, Chapel Hill
A letter dated Sept. 25, 2008, outlined evidence of insect activity and equipment and facilities that were not clean.The president of the company replied with an itemized update on conditions. No violations were found in an inspection Dec. 16, 2008.
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IGA Foodliner, Wendell
Products were "rodent adulterated" a letter dated March 9, 2009, stated. The store owner says he has resolved the contamination issues. Re-inspection is pending.
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J's Discount, Marion
Over-the-counter medication was found to be past its "Use By" date. A re-inspection is pending.
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Lane & Byrum Mill, Edenton
Inset fragments were found in water-ground white corn meal from a sample collected Nov. 25, 2008. Products have been sampled three times since the letter.
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Linney Milling Company, Union Grove
A sample of Linney Water Mill Self Rising Yellow Cornmeal Mix collected on July 22, 2008, was found to be "adulterated with excessive insect fragments." Linney has been sampled six times since the letter and no violations were found.
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Lowes Foods, Millbrook Road, Raleigh
Letters dated May 5 and Sept. 22, 2008, cited the presence of weevils, moths and other violations. In a statement, the company said "pest control at our store on Millbrook Road is definitely under control." At the last inspection, conducted Nov. 15, 2008, no violations were found.
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Lowes Foods, Oxford
An inspection on Oct. 7, 2008, found products beyond their expiration date. No violations were found during an inspection Jan. 14, 2009.
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Lowes Foods, Murfreesboro
An inspection on Feb. 5, 2009, found evidence of rodents on shelves and storage areas. Re-inspection is pending.
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M&M General Store, Shelby
Over-the-counter medications were for sale past their expiration date. No violations were found at an inspection conducted Feb. 2, 2009.
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McDonald's, Murfreesboro
Cockroaches were found in and on the soft serve machine, according to a letter dated Nov. 20, 2008. No violations were found at an inspection conducted Nov. 21, 2008.
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Mega Foodmarket, Charlotte
An inspection conducted July 8, 2008, found products past their "Use By" date. The store has since gone out of business.
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Mi Ranchito, Graham
A series of violations led to an eight-page letter dated Aug. 28, 2008. A representative of the owner blamed problems on the landlord. The company has since gone out of business.
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The Pound Cake Company, Benson
State inspectors found insects in a number of ingredients as well as in a storage area, according to a Oct. 3, 2008, letter. The company says the problem was likely caused by the truck delivering ingredients.
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PretzelMaker, Triangle Town Center, Raleigh
Cockroaches were the main complaint in a letter dated Sept. 23, 2008. In a response, management said "all concerns have been addressed." A re-inspection is pending.
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R&T Discount Grocery, Lawndale
An inspection conducted Sept. 9, 2008, found items on the shelves beyond their "Use By" date. Re-inspection is pending.
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Rich Square Market, Rich Square
Products on the shelf were past their expiration date and other products were improperly stored, according to a letter sent Sept. 26, 2008. No violations were found during an inspection Nov. 4, 2008.
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Rite Aid, Falls Valley Road, Raleigh
Candy and shelves were found to be infested with moths during an inspection on June 4, 2008. A spokeswoman replied that the store had "a new system of checks."
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Roses, Edenton
Evidence of rodents and insects was found in an inspection on July 11, 2008. In a response, the company attached a letter from Dodson Pest Control. The last inspection, on Sept. 23, 2008, found no violations.
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Roy's Canned Goods, Kannapolis
The manufacturer agreed to cease the sale of uninspected products after they were found on shelves at Country Boys Market in Concord.
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TJ's Market, Kill Devil Hills
Medications on the shelf were past their expiration date and food was offered for sale without proper labels during an inspection on Aug. 15, 2008. The owners responded with a handwritten note about changes they had made. No violations were found at the last inspection, conducted Oct. 12, 2008.
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Tyson Foods, Sanford
Tyson responded to negative inspections in both September and October with a five-page outline of changes. No violations were found in an inspection conducted Dec. 12, 2008.
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The Ugly Mug, Hendersonville
A letter dated March 9, 2009, addressed the lack of hairnets in use by personnel with direct contact with food.
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Village Food Mart, North Wilksboro
Medications on the shelf were past their "Use By" date, according to a letter sent Nov. 20, 2008. Store owners replied with a plan to more closely monitor the stock on shelves.
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Wanchese Fish Company
Employees were observed smoking, drinking beers and wearing street clothes while working with shrimp. A follow-up inspection found the problems were corrected. No violations were found at the most recent inspection on Sept. 12, 2008.
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Weeping Radish Farm Brewery, Jarvisburg
Evidence of rodent infestation was found during an inspection on Aug. 6-7, 2008. No violations were found at the last inspection, conducted Oct. 29, 2008.
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Whistle Stop Baking, Thomasville
Labels for Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream and Pecan pies were found to be incomplete, a letter dated Sept. 18, 2008, said.
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Wholesale Alley Farmer's Market, Lexington
Out-of-date medications were found on shelves during an inspection on Oct. 21, 2008. A re-inspection on Dec. 2, 2008, found no violations.