COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - State health officials may switch to just
one surprise inspection a year for South Carolina restaurants.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control strives for two unannounced inspections a year. But spokesman Thom Berry says
the agency may change the policy to deal with a $1.5 million budget
cut.

DHEC would also stop requiring inspections for temporary food
vendors at places like fairs.

Cornell University food science professor Joseph Hotchkiss says
fewer inspections mean more danger for public health.

But Hospitality Association of South Carolina president Tom Sponseller says restaurants do a good job of regulating themselves because their businesses would be ruined by an outbreak of food-borne illness.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)