Finding Restaurant Grades More Difficult In Florida

Florida residents enter restaurants at their own risk since sanitation scores for state eateries are more difficult to find than in other states ... The report said that in states like North Carolina, a restaurant's sanitation score must be posted for patrons to see. Restaurant owners claim their business thrives or dies by the numbers. The report said grades are even posted at drive-through windows.....

....However, in Florida, customers do not know what happens behind kitchen doors unless information is found online ...

...The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association strongly opposes a grading system, saying it is not fair to the violators, ..."There is no scientific basis for grading," Restaurant and Lodging Association spokeswoman Carol Dover said. "Grading is not the best approach for the consumer."

"You may be thinking, who cares what the Restaurant and Lodging Association thinks?" Alvarez said. "Well, they have 10,000 members and very strong lobbyists." "The legislature is not going to pass a statewide system of grading restaurants unless the Florida Restaurant Association consents to it," Sen. Dave Aronberg said. "The Florida Restaurant Association is against the idea."...