North Carolina did not respond with a letter; instead, they returned Bill Shakely's letter with a note hand-written on it along with a business card. The note reads:
To my knowledge (20yrs), there is no such law or rule in the health codes.
Sue C. Grayson
The business card reads:

NCPH TEL 919-715-0926
FAX 919-715-3227
e-mail: Susan_Grayson@mail.ehnr.state.ns.us

Susan C. Grayson

North Carolina Public Health Branch Head
Food, Lodging and Institutional Sanitation Branch
Division of Environmental Health
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 27687 - Raleigh, NC 27611-7687

EveryWhere. EveryDay. EveryBody.