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Think about Food Hygiene approaching Valentines Day
21/1/15
With Valentines Day edging ever closer Rochford District Council’s Food Safety Team want to make sure you have an evening to remember……for all the right reasons.
The Council and the Food Standards Agency is urging you look before you book and check the food hygiene rating before deciding where to go on your special date. The truth is, you can’t tell a restaurant’s hygiene standards by how clean and tidy the staff look or by how romantic the décor and ambience is.
It’s the things you can’t see – like germs spread by bad hygiene practices – that you need to consider. There’s one easy way to set your mind at rest – check the food hygiene rating. This tells you about hygiene standards in restaurants and other food businesses.
It’s really simple to check. Just go online to the Food Standard Agency’s website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings or if you’re out and about look for the green and black sticker; if you can’t see one just ask the staff.
The ratings are determined by local authority food safety officers and range from 0 to 5, with a 5 rating meaning very good food hygiene standards. With 92% of food businesses rated a 3 or higher there are plenty of places with good food hygiene standards, you can choose from. This means you can easily avoid taking your special date to those places not meeting the grade.
It’s good for business too. Valentine’s is a busy time for food businesses and a good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of. So make sure you reassure your customers by putting your sticker up in the window. Businesses with higher food hygiene ratings agree that can help bring hungry customers through the door.
Thousands of food businesses displaying a 3 to 5 rating say it made a positive difference to their business.
You can find out more at www.food.gov.uk/business-
Catriona Stewart, head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the Food Standards Agency, said: “On Valentine’s Day people are focused on making sure that special lunch or dinner goes well and that they make a good impression with their date. We want them to factor in the food hygiene rating when deciding where to go and then enjoy their romantic meal out.”
Rochford District Councils Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Keith Gordon said : “When planning your special meal out, make sure you check the hygiene ratings online and choose a restaurant that takes food hygiene seriously. This is also an important time for local food businesses as a good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of. It matters to customers so we are encouraging all businesses in the Rochford District to display their rating.”
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Previous Article
Check food hygiene ratings to ensure you have a cracker of a Christmas meal out
12/12/14
Good company, great food, Christmas crackers and maybe even gifts are the perfect ingredients for an enjoyable meal out during the festive season, but do you check the food hygiene rating before you book a table?
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards which are based on inspections carried out by Rochford District Council’s Environmental Health Team. Businesses in the area are rated on a scale ranging from 0 which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’. Look out for the green and black food hygiene rating stickers displayed on windows and doors to find out how businesses in the Rochford District area are doing. If you can’t see a sticker, then ask the restaurant staff or check online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings.
Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Cllr Keith Gordon, said: “Christmas is a busy time for our local restaurants, cafes and pubs and we want our residents to have a memorable Christmas for the right reasons! The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helps people to choose an eatery where food hygiene is taken seriously."
So, whether you’re planning a festive meal out with family, friends or work colleagues or just grabbing a quick lunch when out Christmas shopping, don’t just consider the menu – make sure you check the hygiene rating too!
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