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Orange County Fails to Notify Public of Failing Restaurants
A grand jury report released today (.pdf) said that Orange County patrons of food institutions are hardly notified of the conditions inside the restaurant. Unlike Los Angeles County where A-B-C grades are posted in the front window, Orange County restaurants only have to display placards saying they are either "in substantial compliance" with food-safety standards, or awaiting a re-inspection, according to the OC Register. The report says that the public is "almost universally unaware" of the placards.
Inspectors at the Environmental Health Division of the Orange County Health Care Agency are said to be extremely thorough, but critics say they are "friendlier to restaurants than to the diners who patronize them."
But inspectors are only implementing policies set forth by the county's Board of Supervisors, according to Howard Sutter, spokesman for the division. In 1999, the current system was set up after the board was presented with various options of notification, which included the A-B-C system that Los Angeles currently employs. One might question the politicians' motives behind keeping the placards friendly to businesses and un-communicative to the public.
Sponsored message
Notice in the image below how small the "re-inspection" line is:
Photo by jslander via Flickr | Image via Orange County
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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