Like pretty much every other county or town that has implemented some form of restaurant inspection disclosure, the system is way popular in Windsor, Ontario.
About 1,300 locations have been inspected under the star ratings, including all of the premises in the highest-risk categories, said Deb Bennett, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s health protection director..jpg)
“We’ve gone six months now with the star ratings. What we’ve seen is much positive comment from owners and consumers,” Bennett said.
The 500 premises still to be inspected with star ratings are all considered low-risk and include establishments such as convenience stores.
“We have seen a dramatic improvement in the level of compliance,” she said.
As well, she said she’s hearing more from restaurants about receiving four stars when they expected five than from locations with fewer stars. The places seem to accept their lower ratings, she said.
Enzo Mancuso, who owns Mancuso’s Trattoria, 555 Erie St. E. said,
“It’s like anything else, sooner or later you get used to it.”
His restaurant recently received its second five-star rating since they were introduced. Customers applauded when they saw him receive an inspection notice with the stars, which he can post in his window.
But this last bit sucks.
Customers may not know about a restaurant’s inspection and rating, and Bennett said the health unit will focus on efforts to make the public aware they can find out by contacting the health unit.
Market food safety achievements. People may be more concerned about whether their food will make them barf or not.