# What do C and A signs in the windows of groceries mean in NYC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442 "2012-09-02T13:43:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/1 "2012-09-02T13:43:13Z")
I was watching the comedy The Dictator and there is a bit with feuding organic groceries in NYC, one has a C in the window and another is convinced to put up an A after the owners family is kidnapped. No further info is given about what this is supposed to mean, or if they did I missed it. These were portrayed as ultra organic health food stores. What do the letters mean? ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/2 "2012-09-02T14:06:41Z")
New York requires restaurants & other places that sell food to post[Food Health Safety Scores.](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/grading-new-york-restaurants-whats-in-an-a/) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/3 "2012-09-02T15:35:07Z")
As the article points out, you can have quite a few violation points and still get an “A.” A “C” is at least 28 points. You also get multiple chances to resolve the issues, during which you can display “grade pending.” If you are displaying a C, it pretty much means your kitchen is stone cold disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/4 "2012-09-02T15:40:12Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > New York requires restaurants & other places that sell food to post[Food Health Safety Scores.](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/grading-new-york-restaurants-whats-in-an-a/) The OP was asking about grocery stores. That article is about restaurant grading. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/5 "2012-09-02T15:45:16Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > The OP was asking about grocery stores. That article is about restaurant grading. Grocers use the same grading system. They’re not unique to New York, either; they are ubiquitous across the U.S., AFAIK. Personally, I only frequent restaurants with a “C” grade or lower…I like to live dangerously! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/6 "2012-09-02T15:54:39Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Grocers use the same grading system. They’re not unique to New York, either; they are ubiquitous across the U.S., AFAIK. Really? This thread is the first I’m hearing of this, and, having lived in the United States all my life, I should think I would have noticed them before if they had been “ubiquitous.” In fact, I’m sitting in a cafe right now and I don’t see any letter grades in the front window. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/7 "2012-09-02T16:04:11Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Really? This thread is the first I’m hearing of this, and, having lived in the United States all my life, I should think I would have noticed them before if they had been “ubiquitous.” > > In fact, I’m sitting in a cafe right now and I don’t see any letter grades in the front window. I think “ubiquitous” in the sense that most every city inspects and grades places that sell and serve food. I don’t know if anywhere besides NYC requires posting a letter grade, though - I’m pretty sure KC is pass/fail, where fail is shut down until cleaned up (which can be a day or less from what I can tell). ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/8 "2012-09-02T16:17:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Really? This thread is the first I’m hearing of this, and, having lived in the United States all my life, I should think I would have noticed them before if they had been “ubiquitous.” They’re everywhere in Los Angeles, at least, and I’ve seen them in other major cities as well. But apparently you’re right, not every state currently uses them. [Boston, for instance.](http://articles.boston.com/2012-08-20/opinion/33281754_1_post-letter-grades-health-inspection-violations) ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-c-and-a-signs-in-the-windows-of-groceries-mean-in-nyc/633442/9 "2012-09-02T16:25:10Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > New York requires restaurants & other places that sell food to post[Food Health Safety Scores.](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/grading-new-york-restaurants-whats-in-an-a/) Yep those are the exact signs they had in the movie, thanks! I was confused about the scene as well I realized, it is the health inspector’s family that is kidnapped to get him to put an A in the window where formerly there was a C. I’ve never seen these letter grades either in person.