GREENVILLE--South Carolina only has enough restaurant inspectors to do about half of the yearly checks recommended by the federal government.

Although the state has added about 1,200 new restaurants, schools and supermarkets in the past five years, the number of inspectors has remained at about 72, according to Wallace Sheridan with the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"There has been no noticeable increase in staff statewide in about 12 years," he said.

The low staffing means each place gets inspected an average of two times a year. The federal government recommends at least four inspections annually.

"Two times a year leaves an awful lot of opportunity for things we don't see. We need to be in there more, not just doing inspections, but to make sure staff is properly trained," said Roger Scott, director of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health, which oversees the food inspection program.

The food program's budget grew from $5.9 million in 2003 to $6.8 million in 2004, but Sheridan said the agency chose to give employees their first raise in three years. To compensate, DHEC has eliminated routine inspection of camps, mobile home parks and hotel rooms to focus on food safety.

Lawmakers said that, with state revenues increasing, they might be able to find more money to hire inspectors.

The Hospitality Association of South Carolina agrees DHEC needs more inspectors. But members think since it involves public health, taxpayers should pay instead of restaurants, said Tom Sponseller, president of the association.

Restaurants already pay $60 to $270 in inspection fees depending on sales along with other license fees, Sponseller said.