New York school cafeterias could see letter grades

A Bronx pol is renewing its efforts to deliver grades to school cafeterias, just like the city does with restaurants.

Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. introduced a bill on Thursday that would also require school cafeterias and kitchens to prominently display these Health Department memos. Parents would be able to track sanitation conditions on each school’s website, and they would be “promptly” notified whenever their child’s school kitchen scored a “C” or lower.

Many public schools have poor records of serious health code violations, including evidence of flies and rodents.

“Parents need to know the conditions of the cafeterias their children eat in and how they are run — just as they now know how our restaurants are run,” Salamanca (D-Bronx) said.

Salamanca introduced a similar bill in 2018, but it was stalled in a council committee after it failed to garner enough administration support from Mayor de Blasio and other council members. He said he hoped the legislation would now pass.

Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (R-Staten Island), who co-sponsored the 2018 bill, said he plans to back the proposal again because “it’s also important for parents to know the quality of their children’s meals than knowing the cleanliness of your local red sauce joint.

A spokesperson said the mayor’s office will need to review the legislation before commenting.