Customers will soon be able to learn the sanitation situation of the restaurants they visit through the QR codes put up in the venues, as is reported by the Paper.
On Monday, May 14, Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration (SHFDA) released a notification for restaurants across the city. They have demanded that a QR code be publicly accessible for diners to review their latest food safety inspection results, including score and any failed criteria.
Debut in 2009, the current supervision system consists of three tiers: a green happy face, a yellow neutral face and a red sad face). Vivid as it is, it fails to provide enough insight for customers, since the majority of the restaurants receive a neutral face. Also, some restaurants have either hidden or even revised the sign without authorization, causing customer confusion.
Image via TimeOutShanghai
According to the new regulation, restaurants are required to add the QR code to their existing sign and place this sign with high visibility inside the restaurant. Any attempt to alter the sign will incur a fine up to RMB30,000.
These are not the first efforts that have been made to promote kitchen hygiene and food safety in Shanghai. Since September 2016, over 2,000 see-through kitchens have been installed in city restaurants, to grant food regulators and diners a glimpse of what’s going on behind the scene.
Image via people.cn
So for now, we extend our gratitude to SHFDA, as we know we can enjoy meals across the city with fewer worries about food safety.
[Title Image via Netease]
