Why aren't health inspection ratings posted in windows like CA? (Chicago: appointed, neighborhood)

[s0nginmyheart]

As a native of California, all restaurants, markets, anything that handles, sells or serves food in their establishment must place their health/sanitary inspection rating in the store front windows (so patrons can clearly see them upon entering). Grades A through F just like school.

Why doesn't Chicago do that? My friend was telling me about two popular neighborhood diners in Lakeview that had questionable health inspections, and I think knowing that ahead of time would certainly make me consider eating someplace else. But I would think the department of health would be more concerned about public health rather than saving face of 6,000+ restaurants.

Does anyone have any insight? Are there other cities that post them (or don't)?

[chet everett]

I like visiting California and I appreciate the mindset of the regulators that require the posting of health inspection results even it is a bit "Big Brother / nanny state". In Chicago the fact is that there have been decades of corrupt "inspectors" usually appointed to the posts by "friend of a friend" through political channels and such a system of "report cards" would just be another opportunity to use influence (if not outright bribery...) to post an underserved rating.

With the resources of "crowd sourced" resturant reviews and similar bounty of professional critics employed by well know media sources in Chicago the value of more government intrusion is questionable at best...

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

As a native of California, all restaurants, markets, anything that handles, sells or serves food in their establishment must place their health/sanitary inspection rating in the store front windows (so patrons can clearly see them upon entering). Grades A through F just like school.

Why doesn't Chicago do that? My friend was telling me about two popular neighborhood diners in Lakeview that had questionable health inspections, and I think knowing that ahead of time would certainly make me consider eating someplace else. But I would think the department of health would be more concerned about public health rather than saving face of 6,000+ restaurants.

Does anyone have any insight? Are there other cities that post them (or don't)?

[Hunter2013]

St. Louis and New York City also post health grades.

[eureka1]

California does not have a requirement that health inspections be posted in the front window of restaurants, wish they did. It's county by county.

[UPChicago]

I did think that was interesting while in New York......but some of the A's looked like F's at surface level tbh.

[emathias]

I've seen them here, I just don't think they're required to be posted in the window. I think they are posted in the restaurant, though.

Personally, I think a grade A-F is ridiculous. Either a place is clean enough to serve food or it's not. It's either-or, it's not a sliding scale.