Smile! Pierce County simplifies restaurant inspection signs
Starting in 2022, Pierce County restaurants will receive one of three simple food safety grades under a new ratings system unveiled this month by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Restaurants that pass with flying colors will receive a smiley face, meaning “great,” while an average grade will be illustrated by a soft smile for “OK.” If an inspector discovers enough infractions over the course of four visits, restaurants will receive a straight face with the words “needs to improve.”
These signs will be conspicuously placed at any eatery or business that undergoes routine inspections — from full-service restaurants to brewery taprooms, food trucks to school cafeterias.
“Even though our inspection reports have been online for 10 years, the public wants an easier way to view this information,” said Steve Metcalf, communications specialist for the county health department.
No business wants a frowning face plastered on their windows, as evidenced by the positive results of similar grading systems in other cities. The number of restaurants receiving an “A” jumped by 35% when New York City, for instance, launched a letter-grade system in 2010. Critical violations, such as having rats, cockroaches or other vermin, also dropped “substantially,” according to a 2015 study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
“Reducing food-related illnesses and outbreaks is always our ultimate goal,” said Metcalf. “We want to encourage and reward safe food handling to reach this goal. It’s a win-win. We also think it’s important to be transparent with the public and give them access to food safety information in a highly accessible way.”
To develop its at-a-glance system, Pierce County’s health department relied on customer feedback and research into ratings systems across the country, as well as input from its Food Advisory Board. Currently, that professional group includes the owners of Tacoma restaurants like Primo Grill, The Cloverleaf, Gateway to India and It’s Greek To Me, plus leaders of local farmers markets, grocery stores and trade groups.
The icons and layout were admittedly inspired by King County’s system, introduced in 2017. Whereas Pierce County will use three tiers, King uses four to distinguish between restaurants with “some” critical violations versus those with little to no problems.
“We know people travel across county lines to eat, so details from King County’s signs were inspiration in our design in hopes of having the signs make sense no matter where you eat,” said Metcalf.
Pierce County diners have been able to access restaurant inspection reports online since 2010, but with more than 50 listed risk factors, they are long and full of agency jargon. They also aren’t usually posted in restaurants, which are not required to display anything but their health permit.
“It can be too much information for customers who want to make quick decisions about where to eat,” explained Metcalf in an email response to questions from The News Tribune.
“Instead of having to look up and read violations, customers can simply look at the rating sign,” he said, adding that curious consumers will be able to access the full reports online.
Restaurants will be expected to post their seal of approval — or scarlet letter — in “highly visible” locations, such as in the front and drive-thru windows.
The health department began this project in 2018 with the intention of rolling it out this year. Due to COVID-19, officials will spend the next 18 months educating the public and businesses on the new system.
Followed by an updated food code to be revealed next June, expect to see the new food safety signs in all eateries by February 2022.
The county is also accepting feedback on its website.
This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.