Hygiene ratings visible when eating out
The introduction of a new scheme means you can find out about the hygiene standards of food outlets in the borough.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will introduce the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) across the borough from Tuesday 1 February 2011.
This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food.
Outlets that sell or prepare food, such as restaurants, takeaways, pubs, cafes, supermarkets and schools, are regularly inspected by the Council’s Food and Safety Team, to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements.
Hygiene rating scores
The hygiene standards found at these inspections are rated on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (which means urgent improvement necessary) to a top rating of five (very good).
These ratings will be available for anyone to view on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings and the food outlets will be given a sticker and certificate and encouraged to display these at the entrance to their premises. This means that their customers can easily see them and decide if they want to go in.
Of the 715 businesses in the borough eligible for the scheme, around 70 per cent score a 5 rating, 13 per cent a 4 and 7 per cent a 3. The rating does not reflect the quality of food or the standards of service provided to customers.
Benefits for businesses
Executive Member for Enforcement, Councillor Steve Farrer, 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.
“Our Food Safety Team are keen to continue driving up the hygiene standards in the borough wherever possible and I feel sure that implementing the FSA’s national scheme will reward those businesses who have already acted on their advice and encourage those with a lower rating to improve.
“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.”
Reduce food poisoning
Catriona Stewart, Head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the FSA said: ‘We are encouraging as many local authorities as possible to run the FHRS, so it’s great news that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council are the latest to announce their intention to use it.
“Around one million people suffer from food poisoning every year, and our aim in introducing the scheme is to reduce this. The ratings will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop, before they make their decision about which place they prefer to visit.”
Find out more about our Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
Pictured above are local businesses who have a food hygiene rating score of 5 - meaning they all maintain very good standards of hygiene.
From left to right: Indre Bielinskaite (chef, Frankie & Benny's, Redhill) Joao Figueira (Dijo Delicatessen, Horley,) Philip Dixon (chef, Langshott Manor Hotel, Horley,) Chris Wood (Frankie & Benny's manager,) Councillor Farrer, Scott Cheeseman (Frankie & Benny's area manager,) Marc Richings (Les Alan butchers, Redhill) Anthony Kay (S R Kay & Sons, fishmonger, Tadworth) Paul Thompson (manager, Langshott Manor Hotel, Horley)
Last updated : 28/01/2011
