Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com
Nov 24, 2009 6:44 pm US/Eastern
Allegheny County Restaurants To Use Grading System
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
-
-
Allegheny County will be moving to a grading system for restaurants so the public knows how safe and clean the restaurant is.
CBS
Allegheny County is going to change they way they rate restaurant safety in the very near future.
The new system is designed to will make it easier for consumers to make sure the places they eat won't make them sick.
Currently, the ratings resemble a pass-fail scale based on results of food and sanitation inspections.
In the next year, the county will go to a report card system where restaurants will get a letter rating and a number score as well.
The Allegheny County Health Department is hoping this new grading system will inspire every restaurant in town to be at the top of the class when it comes to safety and sanitation:
"I think you will see by this time next year that we have a system in place where a restaurant gets a point score and a grade," Dr. Bruce Dixon said.
In the pass-fail system, if a restaurant passes inspection a green sticker is placed on the door.
If they fail, a yellow sticker is placed on the door to alert consumers that there are critical health violations in the restaurant.
However, there's no way to tell just how safe a restaurant with a green sticker is.
The county plans to change that:
"People will be able to tell what their score is and if their score is below a certain amount that will result in an immediate consumer alert or if it's too terribly low, may result in their closure," Dixon said.
Restaurants scoring 90-to-100 points receive an A, 80-to-89 receive a B, 70-to-79 a C and so forth.
Dr. Dixon believes you may not want to eat at a restaurant where the scores are in the 70's or lower:
"I would be somewhat cautious about eating there. If the food is tremendously good and that's what you've heard, take your chances. But, I would probably be a little retrospect to do that," Dixon said.
Los Angeles has had this report card system for restaurants for about 10 years now and have had success with it.
The number of people hospitalized with food-borne illnesses has dropped by more than 10 percent.
It'll be at least six months before restaurants in Allegheny County start receiving grades from the health department.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Mt. Washington Man Finds Intruder In Bed
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments