Restaurants and food stores face new standards test

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme begins today and will be advertised in libraries and leisure centres in coming weeks.

The national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provides information on hygiene standards to help people choose where to eat out or shop for food. The scheme builds on the Scores on the Doors ratings that the council has been running for several years.

Food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are inspected by food safety officers from Swindon Council to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements.

Standards are rated on a scale ranging from zero, which means urgent improvements are necessary, to a top rating of five.

These ratings will be available for anyone to view on the FSA website at food.gov.uk/ratings and businesses will be given a sticker and certificate.

They will be encouraged to display these at the entrance to their premises. Around one million people suffer from food poisoning every year and the FSA aims to reduce this number by giving consumers an indication of hygiene standards.

Phil Thomas, head of community and commercial safety at Swindon Council, said: “Having a single scheme, which is consistent nationwide, means that the rating will have the same significance wherever people are buying food.

“The public will be able to use the information when deciding which food outlets to use. We hope that food companies will recognise that displaying a good hygiene rating is good for business.”

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, and further from home. So it’s great news that Swindon has announced its intention to switch to the new national scheme.”

Full five for outdoor eatery

ASHOK Mistry has scored a perfect five under the new system at Egg-E-Licious food stop in the Tented Market. The open kitchen offers hot wraps with fillings ranging from jerk fish to sag paneer and chick peas, along with juices and pancakes.

He said: “I’m really pleased. We’re always on top of the cleaning. Our kitchen is open to view and our customers can see exactly what we’re doing. A lot of places are quite secretive but we are cleaning up right in front of people all of the time. We have procedures for dealing with every speck of dirt to ensure the place is spotless.

“People can see how we are cooking fresh, imaginative food and cleaning to a high standard at the same time. I’m very proud that’s been recognised.”

Egg-E-Licious has scored top marks since opening in 2009, though under the previous rules the maximum it could score was a four – the top rating for outlets classed as ‘outdoors.’

Kebab shop praised for its high-quality hygiene

SWINDON’S oldest kebab shop has proof it is not just any late-night food stop after scoring four points under the new ratings.

Ibrahim Sanci, the manager of King’s Best BBQ, and his staff say they are so proud of their high standards they will let customers see their kitchens if asked.

The kebab shop, in Victoria Road, opened in 1980 and has been run by the same family.

Ibrahim said: “We have been here for 32 years and from the first day the quality has been the same.

“We are the only kebab shop we know of where the kebab meat is made and rolled on the premises. We would be happy to show customers our kitchens if they asked.

“We were close to qualifying for five but we are happy with four.

“The scores are for hygiene but we feel proud about the quality of our food.

“The quality has been inspected before and found to be excellent.

The meat was found to be 95 per cent lamb, much higher than anywhere else.”