Let us see the grade

Relax, you do not have to tour the kitchen before you eat; county health inspectors gave your local restaurant an A.

The grade is as bright as daylight, plastered in clear view for all prospective patrons to see. Or is it? Cities such as Lakewood, Downey, Cerritos, Norwalk and Hawaiian Gardens, along with others participate in this program so we do not have to go through the trouble of analyzing a health inspection report before we eat.

What about Long Beach though? Wouldn't you want to know what kind of grade the Nugget would receive? Or the Outpost, the Blue Marble or Boar's Head?

The Long Beach City Council recently passed a tougher ordinance for the inspection of 1,800 food establishments but has yet to decide on how to handle the criteria. Officials have said the adherence to safe practices outweighs the importance of posting grades.

Points are deducted from 100 and if the eatery receives a grade less than a 70, it must close down until violations are corrected.

Patrons are the foundation of any eatery and posting a grade in the front window makes us feel like restaurants will follow proper food-handling techniques to avoid being shut down and to cater to our health and safety. It makes us feel important and respected.

However, since we are paying the bills, we have a right to know not only what is cooking in the kitchen, but how it is being cooked.