This page is to inform you of the requirements for
retail food facilities including restaurants, markets,
bakeries, and bars located within the unincorporated
portions of Los Angeles County and the cities that have
adopted County Ordinance 97-0071.
Cities that have adopted the Restaurant/Market Grading System
POSTING REQUIREMENTS
The following placards are provided by Environmental Health and must be posted in an
area clearly visible to patrons/public, as determined by the inspector:
- Grade/Score Cards
- Public Notification
- Notice of Closure
GRADE/SCORE CARDSEach food inspection begins with 100 points. As a health inspector conducts an
inspection, the appropriate sub-categories in Section I - III on the
Food Official Inspection Report (FOIR) will be marked.
The categories in Sections I and II and the
sub-categories in Section III have been assigned a
specific point value based on the associated public
health risk of the violation. This point value is
deducted from the 100 points. To determine the
facility's grade, the health inspector must first add all the point deductions
of the marked violation categories in Section I-II and the sub-categories in Section
III then subtract that total from the 100 points. (Refer to
Understanding the Food Official Inspection Report for more detailed explanations of these three sections.)
| Beginning of the Inspection |
100 points |
| Total Points Deducted |
- __________ |
| Remaining Points |
Grade or Score |
A grade (A, B, C) or score card will be issued to
each facility at the end of all routine inspections. The
card issued will be based upon the score received on the
Food Official Inspection Report. The grading is calculated as follows:
| 90 to 100 points |
A |
Generally superior in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance. |
| 80 to 89 points |
B |
Generally good in food handling practices and overall food facility maintenance. |
| 70 to 79 points |
C |
Generally acceptable in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance. |
| 0 to 69 points |
Score |
Poor in food handling practices and overall general food facility maintenance. |
A facility receiving a score less than seventy percent (70%) will be issued a
score card and not a grade card. The score card will indicate the actual score
received.
The grade/score cards must remain posted until the next routine inspection, at which
time the inspector will issue a new grade/score card.
All food facilities that have a
critical violation may be subject to closure regardless
of the score received on the inspection report. Food
facilities that score below seventy percent (70%) twice
within a twelve (12) month period are subject to closure and prosecution.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The public notification sign provides the address and phone number for the local
Environmental Health office. The sign states: "All public health questions/concerns
regarding this food facility should be directed to the local Environmental
Health office." The sign must remain posted at all times.
NOTICE OF CLOSURE
A notice of closure sign is posted by the inspector after a food facility has
been ordered closed. The sign will be posted on the entrance door and will state the
reason(s) for closure. The sign must remain posted until the facility is
reopened by the inspector.
AVAILABILITY OF INSPECTION REPORT(S)
A copy of the most recent
inspection report(s) must be available for review by the public if requested.
CONTACT US
For questions or complaints, contact the Environmental
Health Hotline at (888) 700-9995.
Back to Environmental Health's Home Page
California Food Handler Law: