Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh has introduced legislation that might make you think twice before entering a restaurant, eatery, or other establishment that sells food. The Democrat from Forest Hills would like D.C. restaurants to display letter grades based on a Department of Health inspection and other health-safety assessments.

“Posting health grades gives consumers the tools they need to make an informed choice about food safety,” Cheh said in a statement about the Restaurant Hygiene Transparency Act of 2011. “We should publicly encourage restaurants to keep their kitchens clean, and reward them for doing so.”

If this legislation is approved, D.C. would join other jurisdictions, including Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York City and the state of North Carolina, with such a letter-grade system. D.C. restaurants, get ready for this and this.