By Scott Benson, Detroit City Councilmember and Contributing Writer
Earlier this year, the Detroit City Council approved an ordinance introduced by my office that created the Dining with Confidence placard program. My aim with this program is to protect diners by giving them an easy way to determine which dining establishments are in compliance with their city health inspections. The ordinance went into effect in October 2024 and is a quality-of-life priority of the Wealth Generation Task Force to keep our neighborhoods safe and healthy.
Dining with Confidence is committed to strengthening the health and safety of Detroiters and our visitors. It ensures that diners are informed of the current compliance status of our dining establishments by requiring restaurants to display a color-coded placard, which instantly communicates the commitment of the establishment to food safety.
The Dining with Confidence program uses the following placard rating system:
Green Placard (In Compliance): the establishment has no serious food safety violations and has a valid food service license.
Red Placard (Closed): posted if the establishment does not have a valid food service license, poses a serious health risk, or is in the final step of enforcement.
White Placard (Temporary): If the establishment has corrections that are required, or is eligible for enforcement, they will be issued a white placard with information on the program and instructions in how to search inspection results online using the Health Department’s Open Data Portal. A white placard is available on request by licensed food establishments currently in good standing that are awaiting their next routine scheduled inspection.
This transparency helps build trust between the restaurants and their customers. Detroit joins other large cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto, in having a form of placards tied to health inspections. Providing customers with this information will also help Detroit attract new major events, such as the NFL Draft, by marketing the safety of our dining establishments.
The economic benefits of this program are plentiful. The placard program helps those restaurants who take food safety seriously by increasing business and boosting revenue through customer attraction and retention. Successful restaurants create jobs, pay taxes, and support the economy by purchasing goods and services from other local businesses. In fact, a study by American Express showed that 70 cents of every dollar spent at a local restaurant stays within the community.
Restaurants can empower communities, and Detroit is blessed with incredible restaurants representing the diversity of our city. The food scene here is loaded with culinary innovators and people who are working to preserve cultural ties through food. Food is something that can unite us and, in some neighborhoods, restaurants are community hubs where people gather over a meal to solve the problems of the world or simply enjoy the company. Restaurants can also help address food insecurity by working with local organizations to donate meals to those in need.
Keeping you safe from food-borne illnesses is only part of what Dining with Confidence does. The program, at the request of the restaurant owners, is establishing a food service worker training program that trains front-line employees and managers to improve our restaurant sector by focusing on customer service, food service and management education. This will provide Detroit restaurants with an additional edge over suburban restaurants when it comes to competing for customers.
Dining with Confidence represents a highly collaborative partnership between the city and our restaurants. It is not about just bad actors but assisting restaurants that are struggling to raise their standards. The free training programs that are part of this effort are open to all Detroit restaurants and will be offered in multiple languages. The placards also act as incentives to the restaurants by encouraging high standards.
The food service training program benefits small businesses by enhancing food safety knowledge and skills, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. Well-trained staff work more efficiently, improving productivity and lowering operational costs. By ensuring compliance with public health regulations, businesses avoid costly fines and penalties. Additionally, customers are more likely to return to restaurants with green placards, boosting customer satisfaction and repeat business. Finally, the program empowers employees by providing opportunities for job advancement and increased wages.
By investing in both public health and restaurant growth, Dining with Confidence strengthens the city’s food scene, ensures Detroit remains a delicious and healthy place to eat, and increases revenues by attracting and expanding the customer base of restaurants. This is another example of why residency has its privileges.
Hon. Scott Benson is a Detroit City Councilman who represents the 3rd District on Detroit’s north eastside. Councilman Benson is an Urban Planner by training with a long background in real estate and community development in Southeastern Michigan. Scott also serves his community by siting on numerous boards, is an avid cyclist and a proud father.
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