When you eat out in Charlotte, you should know right away if a restaurant is safe and clean. Right now, Mecklenburg County gives restaurants a letter grade and score but unless you’re checking online, it’s hard to tell what that really means.

A “B” might sound fine, but recent inspections found bugs in the kitchen, food on the floor, and other serious violations at local spots. You shouldn’t have to look up scores on a government website just to avoid eating somewhere with health risks.

We’re want the Mecklenburg County Health Department to adopt a simple, color-coded system for restaurant windows: green for an A, yellow for a B, red for anything worse. Other cities like New York and LA already do this. Charlotte should too.

This would make it easier for families, workers, and visitors to make safe choices while encouraging restaurants to keep their standards high.