| Go to any public eating establishment and | | | | results can be in different formats as well. |
| you'll eventually notice a big letter in blue | | | | For instance, California restaurants receive |
| hanging in plain sight. So, what do those | | | | a letter-grade such as A, B, and C. Other |
| postings mean? | | | | areas post the actual numerical score. If you |
| | | | don't see an inspection rating posted, ask. |
| In most counties, the health department is in | | | | Unless there are substantial violations, most |
| charge of conducting inspections of the | | | | restaurants will be given the opportunity to |
| restaurants. It is important to note that the | | | | remain open while working to correct the |
| inspection process can vary from county to | | | | issues found during the inspection. |
| county, so check with your local health | | | | |
| inspection agency for specifics. You can call | | | | Health departments don't have the manpower to |
| your county health office or check to see if | | | | "police" all food establishments. Restaurants |
| inspection guidelines as well as local | | | | are usually inspected routinely based on |
| restaurant scores are posted online. | | | | their size. Bigger restaurants might be |
| | | | visited three times a year and smaller |
| Usually a restaurant begins with a score of | | | | establishments only once per year. Health |
| 100 and points are deducted for various | | | | departments will respond to complaints and |
| violations. There are a number of factors | | | | visit more frequently based on the number of |
| that are considered, over 100 in some places. | | | | complaints. Although restaurants are not |
| Some of these violations include: presence of | | | | supposed to know when these inspections take |
| insects or rodents, improper food | | | | place, they are often informed by other |
| temperatures, unsanitary work spaces, and | | | | restaurant owners when an inspector is in the |
| improper disposal methods of unsanitary | | | | area. This advance knowledge can sometimes |
| foods. The passing score is different | | | | cause the ratings to be somewhat inaccurate. |
| depending on where you live. In some | | | | |
| localities, you must score an 85 to pass. | | | | The best rating for any individual is their |
| Others will pass restaurants with a score of | | | | own. If you don't feel a restaurant is |
| 70 or above. It is important to look not only | | | | sanitary, then don't chance eating there. |
| at whether or not the restaurant passed the | | | | Take precautions like checking silverware and |
| inspection, but on the score that was | | | | glasses for cleanliness. Check to see if the |
| received and the violations themselves. Dirty | | | | employees are neat and tidy looking. Perhaps |
| hand towels may be much less of a concern to | | | | the best indication of a restaurant's |
| you than a rodent infestation. | | | | cleanliness is the bathroom. Do some research |
| | | | of your own, and use the health department's |
| A restaurant is required to post the results | | | | ratings along with your own gut feeling to |
| of its latest health inspection. These | | | | make your dining decisions. |