Orange County stands as an exception in Southern California, where calls are intensifying for the Board of Supervisors to adopt and enforce a universal letter grade health rating system for restaurants and food establishments. Advocates argue this measure would provide crucial public health information to diners, aligning the county with its neighbors.
Currently, Orange County operates with a system described by critics as opaque, relying on hidden certificates and online reports that advocacy groups contend leave local consumers largely uninformed about food safety. In contrast, every surrounding county—including Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino—employs a highly visible A, B, or C letter grading system.
The effort to establish transparent restaurant health grades in Orange County is not new. In 2008, the Orange County Grand Jury issued a strong recommendation for the county to mandate highly visible letter grades. However, the measure did not pass.
During that period, current First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen voted against proposals for greater consumer transparency. Public records later revealed that her husband, Thomas Bonikowski, and her chief of staff, Andrew Do—who has since been convicted of public corruption and bribery and is serving a federal prison sentence—were undisclosed co-owners of a Lee’s Sandwiches franchise in Stanton. This particular establishment, according to the source material, had a record of significant health violations. Critics suggested this ownership stake disincentivized support for open inspection metrics. Furthermore, public records showed Supervisor Nguyen received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from various local restaurant owners with documented poor health inspection records.
Advocates now urge the Board of Supervisors to distance itself from this past by prioritizing public safety and implementing a transparent system.
The absence of transparent letter grade ratings is said to have direct implications for public health. Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, including those caused by pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Norovirus, have seen escalations. Restaurants operating with subpar sanitation practices, improper holding temperatures, and unhygienic food preparation spaces are identified as contributing to these preventable diseases.
Proponents of the letter grade system point to its effectiveness. A visible letter grade posted in a storefront window is presented as an immediate deterrent to negligence, encouraging restaurant management to maintain basic compliance. Peer-reviewed data from neighboring counties reportedly demonstrates that the introduction of mandatory letter grades rapidly leads restaurants to improve cleanliness, resulting in a measurable decrease in local foodborne illness hospitalizations. Advocates contend Orange County residents deserve the same level of public health security enjoyed by diners in adjacent areas.
The current Orange County Board of Supervisors holds the legislative authority to pass a consumer protection ordinance to implement these ratings. Advocacy groups are actively calling on their representatives to schedule a vote to enforce mandatory, visible letter grade health ratings, stating the need to prioritize the health of Orange County families.
