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Baltimore Restaurant Grading System Proposed

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Baltimore restaurants and bars may soon have to display letter grades based on their performance in city health inspections.

Legislation that would create a grading system and online database of grades is scheduled to be reviewed Wednesday by city health officials. The Baltimore Sun reports that all members of the city Council have signed on as sponsors of the bill.

Representatives of the state's restaurant industry and some local establishment owners say the policy could threaten local businesses.

Mary Beth Haller, the city's assistant commissioner of environmental health, says there are about 3,700 food establishments in the city and they are inspected every four months. This year, 68 have been closed or temporarily closed due to violations.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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