New York Begins Letter Grading System for Restaurants

New York began its new letter grading system for restaurant inspections and launched a website to provide inspection information yesterday, according to the New York Times.

The grading system will rate the cleanliness of more than 24,000 restaurants in the city with a letter grade of A, B, or C.  The NY Department of Health and Mental Hygiene "has added 23 inspectors to its 157 to conduct annual visits that are expected to rise by more than one-third, to 85,000 from 60,000."  The website, nyc.gov/health/restaurants, will provide the pubic information on each restaurant inspection.

The new inspection rules require that the 8x10 inch cards displaying the letter grade be posted in a prominent place near the main entrance at eye level.  If the restaurant does not receive an 'A', it will be inspected again, and there is also a process for appeals.  Restaurants will be inspected on the regular schedule, so the grade cards will not reach all restaurants until fall of 2011.

Dr. Thomas Farley, commissioner of the health department, stated that public pressure from the letter grades will "force restaurants to be diligent about good food-safety practices."  The Wall Street Journal reports that at pubic hearings, "restaurant owners complained about the arbitrary nature of inspections, which they said often include non-food violations."

Mayor, Michael Bloomberg has implemented several other health initiatives in the city including requiring "restaurant chains to post calories, ban artificial trans facts and smoking."  He is also campaigning to reduce the levels of salt in food.

To read the New York Times story, click here.
To read the Wall Street Journal story, click here.

Posted: 07/29/2010