Restaurant Grading System Fails To Get Past City Council

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A new grading system is causing some controversy for city restaurant owners. The city council has opted not to go for health inspectors handing out grades based on restaurant cleanliness.

Christie Ileto has more on the vote.

This new push would have applied to anywhere food is sold--meaning restaurants, grocery stores and food trucks--but many establishments argued this grading system will mean bad business.

"It gives an additional incentive to restaurants to try even harder to make sure they're doing everything they can," said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Department.

But not everyone is sold.

"I think it's ridiculous the health department would have such control over the business aspect of the restaurant," said Ann Costlow, Sofi's Crepes.

The Restaurant Association feared the grading systems could have unfairly branded well-run city establishments as less than perfect. Businesses agreed.

"In my opinion, a restaurant, grocery store, food truck are either fit to be open or you're not," said Gino Cardinale.

There's no in between for Cardinale, who runs City Cafe. He adds restaurants like his have nothing to fear from the proposal but he worries this grading system could only bring problems and not solutions.

The bill would also have required the details of the inspections to be posted online. A 2013 state health department review found deficiencies in Baltimore's current health inspections.