FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kristia Winter
718-629-2900 / KWinter@council.nyc.gov

BROOKLYN, NY — Today, Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Chair of Small Business, and Council Member Farah N. Louis (D-Brooklyn) introduced a food safety bill during the inaugural virtual Stated Meeting. Intro 1921 would require third-party food delivery services and food service establishments to display sanitary inspection letter grades online.

The introduction of this piece of legislation could not be more timely as city residents and small businesses have undergone drastic changes due to COVID-19, namely, shifting to delivery and take-out only.

The City of New York is home to nearly 27,000 eating establishments, many of whom are listed on third-party food delivery apps such as Grubhub, Seamless, DoorDash, and Delivery.com. Through unannounced inspections by the Department of Health, kitchens across this city have been held to the highest standard of cleanliness to ensure best food practices are in place to prevent any hazards that could endanger public health. Although patrons who walk past the storefronts can see these grades posted on the door, those who order online are at a disadvantage and unaware of any health code violations that could lead to illness.

“With more customers ordering online or through mobile apps, food safety must always remain a top priority,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis. “We cannot continue this two-tier system that creates a loophole for eateries, endangers public health, while depriving paying customers of critical safety information to protect themselves.”

This legislation is an opportunity to hold restaurateurs accountable while assuring all New Yorkers that no one will be allowed to operate dangerous kitchens and leave customers at risk for food poisoning or a trip to the hospital, something none of us can afford in the current climate. 

New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis represents the 45th Council District, which is comprised of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Marine Park, Flatlands, & Kensington in Brooklyn, NY. She is a member of the committees on Civil Service and Labor; Economic Development; Education; Finance; Housing and Buildings; Youth Services; and Justice System. Council Member Louis is the Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus and Vice Co-Chair of the Black, Latino/a, and Asian Caucus.

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