Food outlets get hygiene star ratings

All types of food businesses, including restaurants, cafes, delis, school kitchens, and takeaways have been inspected. Ratings range from five stars for excellent, down to zero for very poor performance. Scores are based on the results of inspections carried out by council food enforcement officers. The initiative aims to drive up food hygiene standards as well as helping people make an informed choice about where they eat. Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: "Whether people are going out for a restaurant meal or simply picking up a pizza, fish and chips or whatever else to eat at home, they want to be confident that their food has been stored, prepared and presented to the best possible standards. "We are backing Scores on the Doors as this serves as a good advertisement for high hygiene standards, gives food establishments an incentive to improve if necessary and provides residents with an informed choice about the safest places to eat." All food premises which achieve two stars or more will be given a certificate to display in their property for customers to see and a sticker to put on their front door. There were 49 five star premises, 186 four star premises, 163 three star premises, 105 two star premises, 16 one star premises and 3 no star premises. Inspections include food handling practices and procedures, temperature control, cleanliness, ventilation and condition of the structure of the kitchen area. Also taken into account is the overall management of the business, particularly, whether satisfactory documented food safety procedures are in place.