LA County health grade colors have changed. Here’s what it all means

You may have noticed something different at your favorite restaurant lately.

That coveted “A” health grade sign — which means a restaurant has passed inspection with few, if any, issues — has a different color. It’s changed from blue to green, along with color changes for every other letter grade in the system.

It’s part of a switch by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which manages health inspections.

What’s changed?

The change seems to have happened quietly over a few years. 

Cards featuring “A” grades changed from blue to green; “B” cards changed from green to blue, and “C” cards changed from red to yellow.

The old colors had been the department standard for decades. Health inspectors have been replacing the grade cards with the new style as they do their inspections, which are supposed to happen one to three times a year. Some old colors are still out there, though.

The decision to switch the colors came in 2022, according to the Department of Public Health, and was rolled out over time. County health officials worked with food industry representatives to simplify the grade system that year.

The department did not respond to LAist’s questions about why the change was made or whether the information was shared publicly, but it’s not the first time the grading system was refreshed. In 2016, health officials changed how point deductions worked to make serious health violations clearer.

Who follows the grade system?

Counties and cities in California can mandate publicly posted grades, though it’s not required under state law. However, inspection results do have to be shown upon request.

Public grades are mostly a system meant to increase awareness and encourage strong food safety habits. From 2022 to 2024, Public Health issued more than 120,000 grades — 96% of inspections earned an “A,” 3% got a “B,” and less than a half percent were given a “C,” according to department figures.

All cities have food safety and inspection requirements even if they don’t require businesses to post a grade card.

In most of L.A. County, retail food facilities — including restaurants, markets, bakeries, and bars — have to post grades. The rule applies to unincorporated L.A. County and cities that adopted a county ordinance.

The only L.A. County cities that haven’t adopted the ordinance are: Avalon, Bradbury, Hidden Hills, La Habra Heights, San Marino, Sierra Madre, and Signal Hill. (Pasadena and Long Beach have their own health departments that run inspections.)

Decoding the colors

It’s likely still safe to eat at a restaurant with a “C” grade, according to the Department of Public Health, but this is essentially the minimum standard. The lower the score, the more violations exist.

Although it may be off-putting to some, spots with a “B” or “C” are considered to have “acceptable” food safety practices based on the county’s requirements. In this case, it makes sense for “C” to go from red to yellow because red is more associated with a sense of danger or risk.

Here’s a breakdown of each letter grade:

• “A” grade (90 to 100 points): Generally superior in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance.
• “B” grade (80 to 89 points): Generally good in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance.
• “C” grade (70 to 79 points): Generally acceptable in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance.
• Score card (0 to 69 points): Poor in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance. 

Owners that score below 70 points are required to post a score card instead of a letter grade so the public can see the actual number they got. Spots that score this low twice within a 12-month period are subject to closure.