Would You Leave Your Health to a Pass/Fail Restaurant Grade?

Critics of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s restaurant letter grading system, which has graded the city’s 24,000 eateries, say it is unfair to owners and not based off sanitary and health issues.

Other critics said that anything under an "A" will put a restaurant in grave danger.

Irene LoRe, the executive director of the Park Slope BID thinks a “pass/fail” system will be fairer to restaurateurs:

“Regarding letter grading, the DOH will say that an establishment with a ‘B’ or ‘C’ is acceptable and does not endanger the public health. They even try to convince restaurants that a ‘B’ or ‘C’ grade will not hurt,” LoRe wrote in a statement she sent to the City Council, which held a Department of Health oversight meeting on Wednesday. “In my opinion that is simply not the case on the face of it. Potential customers passing two restaurants, similar prices and menus but one has a B and the other an A, what choice do you think will be made?”

But some patrons do not feel that a “pass/fail” will keep them safe. As one commenter said in , “I don't leave my health to ‘Pass/Fail.' If I'm putting your food in my mouth, I want to know it's nothing but the best.”

The commenter also explained that there are apps that can search why restaurants got a specific letter grade.

What do you think? Should the letter grading system be scrapped? Should a pass/fail be implemented?