Why Won't Florida Grade Its Restaurants?


Diners in Florida must do the following to learn about a restaurant's health and safety history:
  1. Search for the restaurant name on the DBPR app or website
  2. Select the inspection date you want to read 
  3. Read a granular inspection using restaurant inspector lingo. 
New York City, Los Angeles and 60 other jurisdictions use a grading or rating system according to the Palm Peach Post. Using a single letter grading system, a diner can immediately see if the restaurant is one they wish to patronize or not.

The State says they don't provide grades because "An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. Because conditions can change rapidly, restaurants are not graded or rated." That's the answer we got from Kathleen Keenan, Communication Coordinators for the DBPR.

Here's the thing...
  1. Posting a grade received after one inspection and telling diners "This grade is reflective of the overall, long-term conditions at this establishment" isn't what anyone is asking for.
  2.  One may or may not be able to grade the *restaurant* after one inspection, but one is able to grade *the inspection.* 
  3. To say an inspection may not be a way to judge a restaurant's "long-term conditions at an establishment" is as true as saying that it may. It doesn't make the data invalid and of no worth to diners. 
Below are 3 ways a diner can (1) be shown a restaurant grade, (2) gain knowledge about a restaurant and (3) decide on their own whether to eat there or not without "rapidly changing conditions" of that being brought in as a factor:
  1. Show the Most Recent Inspection Grade: A sign placed in the restaurant's front window with big bold letters reading "Most Recent Inspection Grade." Below that, show the grade as a huge letter. 
  2. Show all the restaurant's Inspection Grades: DBPR spokesperson Chelsea Eagle told the Palm Beach Post "Grading public food service establishments provides incomplete information on an establishment’s inspection history and may be misleading." So post a full list of a restaurant grades of all that restaurant's inspections. There is nothing misleading about that. 
  3. Show the restaurant's Inspection Grade Average: Take the average of 3 inspections over a 6 month period and show that grade. In order for a restaurant to change their grade they have to improve their next 6-month average. And they get 3 chances in one period to do so.


We also have to think about the restaurants themselves. A restaurant can protect itself from having to display a poor grade by (1) of course always following the rules and (2) make the State do what New York City does for its restaurants. When New York City created their letter-grade system in 2011, the New York Times explained how it works:
Restaurants that don’t earn an A can wait for a reinspection, without posting any sign... and can appeal an unsatisfactory ruling after re-inspection if they...post a black-and-white “grade pending” sign.
For now, thumb thru the August 30th Garden Buffet (Yelp) inspection:

Violation  Observation
35A-06-4  Basic - Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Fly tapes in kitchen **Warning**
23-15-4  Basic - Accumulation of food debris/soil residue on handwash sink. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-01-4  Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In sugar **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
23-06-4  Basic - Build-up of food debris, dust or dirt on nonfood-contact surface. Exterior equipment, pan rolling rack **Warning**
23-04-4  Basic - Build-up of mold-like substance on nonfood-contact surface. In cabinet at wait station, at triple sink **Warning**
23-24-4  Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. **Warning**
21-06-4  Basic - Cardboard used as liner for food container. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-45-4  Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. **Warning**
08B-46-4  Basic - Case/container/bag of food stored on floor in dry storage area. Water bottles on floor **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-45-4  Basic - Case/container/bag of food stored on floor in walk-in cooler/freezer. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
36-34-5  Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. **Warning**
24-07-4  Basic - Cleaned and sanitized equipment or utensils not properly stored. Cups stored between towel dispenser and hand sink. Recommend relocating paper towels closer to sink **Warning**
36-03-4  Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. In hall **Warning**
14-09-4  Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
35A-03-4  Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Noted 2 by wait station (sauce prep) 5 under SS storage, 8 under buffet **Warning**
08B-49-4  Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public.personal food not marked or separated **Warning**
40-06-4  Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-25-4  Basic - Establishment using wood (other than a hard, close-grained wood) as a food-contact surface. Wooden spoon used not hardwood, Corrective Action - disposed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
36-41-4  Basic - Fan cover in walk-in cooler/freezer has accumulation of dust or debris. **Warning**
14-23-4  Basic - Fixed equipment exposed to spillage not sealed to adjoining equipment/walls. Triple sink , counter **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
23-20-4  Basic - Food debris/dust/grease/soil residue on exterior of oven. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
23-19-4  Basic - Food debris/dust/grease/soil residue on exterior of reach-in cooler/refrigerator. **Warning**
08B-47-4  Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Dry storage shelf not 6 inches off floor **Warning**
14-38-4  Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Food plates and storage containers broken **Warning**
23-07-4  Basic - Gaskets with slimy/mold-like build-up. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
36-14-4  Basic - Grease accumulated on kitchen floor and/or under cooking equipment **Warning**
36-24-5  Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Numerous holes in wall **Warning**
10-03-4  Basic - In-use utensil used with moist food stored in running water with insufficient velocity to flush food particles away. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-08-4  Basic - Interior of oven has heavy accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Warning**
38-07-4  Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Front fixture in kitchen **Warning**
05-09-4  Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. In sushi cooler **Warning**
14-31-4  Basic - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Garbage and thank you bags used **Warning**
25-34-4  Basic - Oyster/clam/mussel/crab or other shells purchased from a supplier reused to serve food. Crab shells used **Warning**
29-08-4  Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair.nleak under sushi sink, wait station sink **Warning**
06-04-4  Basic - Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food thawed at room temperature. Crab stick at prep table thawing **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
23-14-4  Basic - Shelf over and under preparation table soiled with food debris. And rusted **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-46-4  Basic - Shelves not attached to walls in walk-ins not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Rusted **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
24-18-4  Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. In dining room Corrective Action - covered **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-17-4  Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Melon over cooked noodles **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
36-27-5  Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. **Warning**
42-01-4  Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. **Warning**
21-12-4  Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-06-4  Basic - Wood surface not properly sealed. Refrigerator doors made of unsealed wood **Warning**
02D-01-5  Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar bin at wait station **Warning**
03A-15-4  High Priority - All potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) foods in reach-in cooler cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Side display cooler at cook line , shrimp 50 F. Chicken 53F **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-18-4  High Priority - All potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) foods on buffet cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Salads 50 F desserts 70 F, sushi 50 F. At dessert, salad and sushi areas **Warning**
08B-02-4  High Priority - Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Customer dipped ice cream requiring hands below rim of container **Warning**
12A-07-4  High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before changing gloves and/or putting on gloves to work with food. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-10-4  High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
01D-01-4  High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Salmon used at sushi bar.letter only states product is chemical and drug free **Warning**
03B-01-4  High Priority - Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Dry hot items on buffet wings 110, dumplings 120 F Corrective Action - recommend TPHC procedure for buffet. Sushi rice 70F **Warning**
08A-09-4  High Priority - Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in walk-in cooler. Fish over seafood salad **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-22-4  High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in reach-in cooler. Chicken and beef over shrimp Corrective Action - product moved to proper storage level **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-06-4  High Priority - Raw meat/poultry cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.chicken, shrimp, beef, 54F. End reach in cooler and middle reach in cooler at cook line **Warning**
35A-05-4  High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 on server wall, 1 under SS storage, 3 under buffet **Warning**
12A-02-4  High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-09-4  High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-20-4  Intermediate - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. **Warning**
22-24-4  Intermediate - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance on/around soda dispensing nozzles. **Warning**
53A-10-4  Intermediate - Certified food manager unable to answer basic Food Code questions pertaining to safe operation of establishment. Allergen and big 5 , Big 5 poster posted, allergen information not up to date **Warning**
14-79-5  Intermediate - Cold buffet not maintained in good repair. Do not store potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in this unit until the unit is repaired. **Warning**
31A-13-4  Intermediate - Employee used handwash sink as a dump sink. At wait station **Warning**
14-81-1  Intermediate - Hot buffet not maintained in good repair. Do not store potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in this unit until the unit is repaired. **Warning**
31B-02-4  Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. **Warning**
31B-03-4  Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. **Warning**
22-31-4  Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Non spec mixer head rusted **Warning**
14-77-5  Intermediate - Reach-in cooler not maintained in good repair. Do not store potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in this unit until the unit is repaired. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-16-4  Intermediate - Reach-in cooler shelves soiled with food debris. **Warning**
02C-02-4  Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Lomein , egg rolls, salads , **Warning**
22-18-4  Intermediate - Soil residue in food storage containers. **Warning**