Other cities have taken public access to inspection reports a step further. Columbus requires restaurants to display a sticker on their front door that indicates the results from the latest inspection. A green sticker means the restaurant passed. Yellow, red and white stickers indicate varying levels of infractions. The stickers also carry the date of the most recent inspection from the city health department.
Restaurant owners in Columbus were reluctant to go along with the new system when it began several years ago. Scott Heimlich, owner of Barcelona Restaurant and Bar, said over time they have come to accept it. Heimlich also serves as president of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. He said the inspection process is fair and professional. "Let's give the public all of the information, full disclosure. They can see what is good and what is bad," Heimlich said.
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