Restaurants Could be Subject to New Rating System

You may soon be able to find out exactly how local restaurants scored on their latest health inspections right when you walk in their door.

Under a proposal from the Naugatuck Valley Health District, food establishments in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton would be subject to a new grading system.

The proposed change is in part a response from public demand for such a system, according to David Rogers, assistant director of the District's Environmental Health Division.

"We’ve gotten a lot of requests from the media and the public about how businesses have done in their health inspections," he said. "We have crafted a rating system which is similar to that which is used in other areas so that the public has a better idea about how these businesses are doing.”

Under the proposal, Rogers said, an establishment would be given a sign upon completion of an inspection, and they would be required to post it. Inspection reports would also be made available online, on the health district's website.

The Naugatuck Valley Health District will host a public hearing on the proposed revisions to its Food and Food Service Establishments Code. Here are the meeting details:

• When: Tuesday, April 9, at 6:45 p.m.
• Where: NVHD Second Floor Conference Room, 98 Bank St., Seymour

Copies of the proposed revisions are available at the health district's office and online at www.nvhd.org. We've also attached them as a PDF to this article.

Rogers said the health district sent preliminary information about the proposed changes to restaurants in January, when their license renewals were due.

“I got zero phone calls so I don’t know what to expect,” he said.

Proposed Rating System

According to the draft revisions, the health district would employ a rating system for food service establishments, based on a scale that goes from "Excellent" to "Poor."

Here's how those scores would break down:

Excellent

A food service establishment having no critical four point violations or risk factor violations. A Qualified Food Operator, Designated Alternate or other knowledgeable and trained staff was on site at the time of inspection. Records of training are available, accurate and up to date. Safe food handling practices and procedures were observed at the time of inspection and the facility was found to be in compliance with the Public Health Code.

Good

A food service establishment having no critical four point violations and no more than two risk factor violations. Establishment is free of major structural defects and exhibits safe food handling practices and procedures at the time of inspection. The facility was found to be substantially in compliance with the Public Health Code.

Fair

A food service establishment having no critical four point violations and no more than four risk factor violations. Establishment has conditions that need to be corrected such as structural defects or other violations and/or unsafe food handling practices likely to cause foodborne illness.

Poor

A food service establishment having a rating score of less than 80 or any establishment with one or more uncorrected critical four point violations. An establishment with five or more risk factor violations at the time of inspection that are likely to cause foodborne illness or structural defects requiring correction. The establishment exhibits poor compliance with the provisions of the Public Health Code at the time of inspection.

Rate & Review Restaurants on Patch

Whether it's your favorite place or you'll never go back, you can rate and review local restaurants and other local businesses at any time. Just drop into the Shelton Patch Directory, which is a comprehensive listing of local businesses that you can search by category, complete with addresses, phone numbers, hours and other key information.