NY Agriculture & Markets Food Safety

Food Safety Inspection Program Overview and Retail Store Letter Grades

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Food Safety operates approximately 115 food inspectors conducting unannounced sanitary inspections at approximately 28,000 food establishments statewide including grocery stores, processing facilities, warehouses, and retail stores. Retail food stores receive letter grades A, B, or C following inspection, with Grade A indicating no critical deficiencies, Grade B indicating corrected deficiencies, and Grade C indicating uncorrected critical deficiencies requiring immediate corrective action.