New York, NY – Today, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing, announced that her legislation requiring online and app-based food delivery services to post restaurant sanitation grades online was signed into law. 

This statewide legislation ensures that customers ordering food either online or through delivery apps, such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, will have access to the same health inspection information as those physically dining in a restaurant.

“Restaurant sanitation grades shouldn’t be a secret,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan). “New Yorkers, whether they’re ordering takeout or having dinner in a restaurant, deserve to know if their favorite haunt is plagued by health violations. However, people using delivery apps are denied this critical information, leaving them vulnerable to unsanitary kitchens. Thankfully, that practice ends today – my legislation requiring delivery apps to post restaurant sanitation grades on their website will empower consumers, increase transparency and reduce food-borne illnesses.”

In New York City letter grades are required to be conspicuously posted in a restaurant's window and other areas. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene performs unannounced inspections of restaurants once a year and assigns letter grades based on the conditions found at the time of their visit; follow-up visits are scheduled as needed. Outside of New York City, local or state departments of health conduct inspections of food establishments. 

According to a survey conducted by Baruch College, approximately 88% of New Yorkers consider restaurant grades when deciding where to eat, with 91% of New Yorkers in favor of the rating system. Additionally, a study published by the National Institute of Health found that salmonella poisoning decreased by 5.3% after New York City implemented its restaurant grading system.

“Consumers are clamoring for transparency,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan). “With the rising cost of food and an exponential uptick in the number of fees charged by delivery app services, many New Yorkers are paying an arm and a leg for takeout. Before shelling out their hard-earned paycheck, patrons are entitled to basic information about the health and sanitary conditions of a restaurant before placing their order online.”