Mecklenburg County health inspectors handed Crackin' Crawfish, the University-area seafood spot at 440 E. McCullough Drive, an 87 (B) on Friday after finding a metal rodent trap stored inside a cooking pot, along with several sanitation problems. The visit also led staff to toss a batch of house-made yogurt and triggered follow-up checks from environmental health officials.
According to Charlotte Alerts News, inspectors flagged raw lobster tail stored above unwashed potatoes, multiple ready-to-eat foods that were not date-marked, and splash and debris buildup on ceilings and walls. The report also describes an employee who allegedly used fingernail clippers and then went back to prepping food without washing hands, along with drinks left on a prep table, an employee working without a hair net, and the addition of new Indian menu items that did not have prior approval from the county.
Inspection history
Mecklenburg County's online inspection database shows the same McCullough Drive location earned a 97.50 (A) in April 2022, a sharp contrast with this month's score. That earlier visit is logged in Mecklenburg County Public Health records.
Business details
Crackin' Crawfish's official website lists the restaurant at 440 E. McCullough Drive Suite 230 and posts its hours and menu, with an emphasis on live lobster, crab, and crawfish. As of Friday, the site did not include any public response to the latest inspection.
Fermentation, HACCP and the yogurt
Inspectors reported that the restaurant's house-made yogurt had been left out overnight without refrigeration and that the operation did not have an approved HACCP plan for fermentation, so the yogurt was discarded, per Charlotte Alerts News. HACCP - a written hazard-analysis and critical-control-point system - is used to pinpoint and manage food-safety risks in processes that can allow pathogens to grow, according to federal guidance from the FDA.
Enforcement and next steps
Mecklenburg County's Food and Facilities Sanitation program requires permitted restaurants to correct violations, then conducts routine reinspections. Serious or repeat problems can lead to stepped-up enforcement, including verification visits and other actions. The county posts inspection scores and food safety resources online for businesses and the public.
Inspectors are expected to return to confirm that issues at Crackin' Crawfish are resolved, and the restaurant will remain on the county's inspection radar until corrections are verified. This story will be updated if Mecklenburg County Public Health or Crackin' Crawfish releases a formal statement.
