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New Legislation Requires Restaurants To Publicly Detail Health Inspection Closures

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Baltimore's mayor signs legislation on Thursday that requires restaurants to publicly post reason for closures resulting from health inspections.

The city inspects roughly 5,000 restaurants a year and only 100 actually get shut down for violations. With this new law you'll be able to know why.

WJZ's Tracey Leong has more.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake signs legislation to keep restaurant goers safe, requiring businesses that get shut down for health code violations to make the information public.

"As an ER doctor I have treated hundreds of patients with food poisoning and have seen people with severe diarrhea and vomiting, abdominal cramming and pain, even kidney failure and death," said Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

The new legislation keeps restaurants from lying to their customers by posting misleading signs stating they're closed for vacation or closed for renovation.

It's good news for businesses like the Mussel Bar and Grille in Harbor East who says they always receive a great health score.

By making this information easily accessible, health officials believe it will keep restaurants honest,  which essentially makes it easier for customers to  make an educated decision on decide whether or not they want to come in.

This legislation goes into effect in early September.

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