L.A. Panel Seeks to Make Restaurants Post Grades

A Los Angeles City Council panel moved Wednesday to close a loophole that has hampered a new health crackdown on restaurants.

In the process, members threw in some recommendations of their own aimed at cleaning up renegade eating establishments.

“Before someone is able to open a restaurant, they should pass a basic test on how to deal with food,” said Councilman Michael Feuer, chairman of the council’s Arts, Health and Humanities Committee. “We should make [Los Angeles County’s ordinance] tougher, clearer and fairer.”

The county requires restaurants to post an A, B or C grade so patrons can see at a glance how well the establishments are complying with health codes. But in order for the posting rule to be enforced within a city, the city must adopt a conforming ordinance. The committee members recommended that Los Angeles do so.

Then, venturing into territory usually left to the county Department of Health Services, they also recommended a series of measures to improve safety, including a requirement that new restaurant owners and their employees be trained in health practices and that restaurants be provided with health code manuals.

Restaurants could also pay for two reinspections to improve their grade under the committee’s recommended changes. If approved by the full council, the proposal will be forwarded to the county Board of Supervisors. If the board does not approve it for use throughout the county, the council could perhaps adopt it for restaurants within the city.