Witney News - Food outlets get food hygiene star ratings

Food outlets get food hygiene star ratings

Over forty premises in West Oxfordshire have obtained a maximum five star food hygiene rating under a new system called Scores on the Doors.

‘Scores on the Doors’ is a nationwide scheme which makes it quick and easy for people to check out food hygiene standards by simply logging on to www.westoxon.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors, or the national www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk website.

The scheme is being launched across Oxfordshire this week with all the councils working together to implement it. For West Oxfordshire a special launch event is being held at Kelmscott Manor, a 5 star rated premise, on Thursday 18th June for all those that achieved a 5 star rating.

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.

The star ratings are:

• Five star – Excellent. This means there is an excellent record of compliance. Standards are high and conform to statutory obligations and industry codes of practice.
• Four star – Very Good. This means standards are general high with a reasonable food safety management record.
• Three Stars – Good. This means there is some minor non-compliance with food safety legislation but standards are being maintained or improved.
• Two star – Fair. This means there is some major non-compliance with food-safety legislation and more effort is required to prevent a fall in standards.
• One star – Poor. This means there is general failure to satisfy obligations with low standards and poor management knowledge
• No stars – Very Poor. Almost no compliance with obligations and poor management track record.