A B C; New York City food carts should also be rated with ‘stupid letter grades’

Restaurant owners in New York City want food carts to also be “embarrassed like we are with these stupid letter grades.”

Vinnie Mazzone, who owns Chicken Masters, also said, “If you are cooking, preparing and storing perishable items, there should be a letter grade on your cart. No question about it.”

George Constantinou, 35, co-owner of Bogata Latin Bistro, told Metro, “I think it’s only fair that they be graded like restaurants,” said in Park Slope. “The public can get sick if they eat at a restaurant, a food cart or even a convenience store.”

Food trucks are regularly inspected by the Health Department, but city restaurateurs are backing a bill that they say would level the playing field.

Queens state Sen. Jose Peralta plans to introduce a bill this week that would require the Health Department assign letter grades to food carts, letting New Yorkers know where the cleanest carts are — and which to avoid.

One cart owner said applying the same standards for five-star restaurants, which have larger staff and space, to vendors, "makes no sense.”

Rex Velasquez who runs a food cart downtown, called it a good idea. “At least you know if the cart is clean or not. I always keep my cart clean, so it doesn’t matter to me.”

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About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time