New rating scheme for hygiene standards

Archived press release

Date Published: 18/05/12

Diners

Diners can feel more confident than ever when buying food and eating out in Aylesbury Vale thanks to the introduction of a new scheme telling them about the hygiene standards of food outlets in the district.

Aylesbury Vale District Council is moving from the ‘Scores on the Doors’ system and adopting the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) from Monday 21 May.

The scheme, which is being rolled out nationally, has been developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to provide easily accessible and understandable information about the places where consumers eat. It enables people to make informed decisions about where they can eat out and shop for food with confidence.

Food outlets, such as shops, restaurants, takeaways and pubs are inspected by AVDC’s environmental health officers who check that the establishment’s hygiene standards meet legal requirements.

The hygiene standards found at these inspections are rated on a scale ranging from zero, which means urgent improvement necessary, to a top rating of five.

The ratings are available for anyone to view on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings and the food business is given a sticker and certificate which they are encouraged to display at the entrance to their premises. The sticker means potential customers can quickly and easily decide if they want to go in.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “We have joined the FHRS as we can see the benefits for local food businesses and the people that eat and shop in them. The public will be able to use the ratings when deciding which outlets to visit and we hope that food companies will recognise that displaying a good hygiene rating is good for business. When customers expect to see a rating, there is a real incentive for food businesses to seek to make improvements to their hygiene standards."

Catriona Stewart, Head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the FSA, said: "We recognise the real progress that has been made in improving hygiene standards in food outlets through 'local' food hygiene rating schemes. But having a single nationwide scheme will mean a level playing field for businesses across the country, and consumers will be able to recognise and use the ratings in their own area, as well as further from home.”

For details on the scheme and what's inspected, visit the environmental health section on the AVDC website.