Coventry food outlets facing new hygiene system

[dutchman]

A new way of rating hygiene standards in food places in Coventry will start next week.



From April 1 restaurants, takeaways, bars, pubs, schools, cafes will be inspected under the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

They will be inspected by food safety officers from the city council to check hygiene standards are meeting legal requirements and will be rated on a scale from zero - which means urgent improvement is needed - to five. All businesses will be then have to display their rating.

In Coventry, around 2,000 businesses will be affected by the new scheme.

Lord Rooker, chair of the Food Standards Agency, launches the scheme at the Ricoh Arena today.

Geoff Makin, the council’s environmental health manager, thinks the new scheme will build on the existing Scores on the Doors.

He said: “Although we already have a very successful food hygiene scheme, we have opted to change to the national scheme as we can see the benefits for local food businesses and the people that eat or shop in them.

"Having a single scheme that is consistent nationwide means the rating will have the same significance wherever people are buying food.”

Businesses needing information can contact 024 7683 4819 or email jennifer.merryfield@coventry.gov.uk

[dutchman]

150 food outlets in Coventry 'have poor hygiene', figures reveal

ALMOST 150 food outlets in Coventry have poor hygiene standards, it has been revealed.

Food safety officers have inspected restaurants, takeaways, bars, pubs, schools, cafes and even places of worship under the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

In Coventry,134 places were given a ratings of zero by the Food Standards Agency- the lowest possible.

This indicated “major improvement necessary” and 13 were given a score of one – the second lowest.

They included a mini-supermarket in Hillfields, where mice droppings were found on fruit and vegetables.

The store was given a rating of zero and the owner appeared in court last month after pleading guilty to seven food hygiene offences.

About 2,000 city businesses will have to display their ratings to help people choose where to eat or shop for food.

Food inspectors ensured hygiene standards met legal requirements at each food place.

The findings are ratings from zero to a top score of five, which were published on the FSA’s website yesterday.

Nikki Castledine, the city council’s food safety manager, said: “From our point of view we can now target our resources on the poorest hygiene places and drive up the standards.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to advise food places that are not doing so well and hopefully it will encourage owners to improve hygiene.

“We visit and inspect the food places every six months.”

The Food Standards Agency will be sending out experts to poor hygiene places to advise them on better practice.

Nikki added: “We were successful in securing funding from the FSA which means they will coach owners that fall into the lower hygiene categories.

“We have always known which places have poor hygiene – we take formal action which ranges from giving advice, a written warning, right up to prosecution as a last resort.”

[rebbonk]

Some surprises in there!