New hygiene rating scheme for Shropshire food providers

Businesses selling food in the Shropshire Council area will soon be awarded a food hygiene rating, after Shropshire Council becomes one of 100 councils to sign up to the new National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

The scheme is being rolled out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Food Standards Agency later this year in partnership with local councils. It aims to provide consumers with information about hygiene standards in businesses selling food, to help people decide where to buy or eat food.

Businesses will be awarded one of six ‘star’ ratings from no stars to the top rating of five stars. Ratings will be based on how hygienically food is prepared and stored, the condition and cleanliness of the premises, and how they manage and document food safety. Shropshire Council’s environmental health officers will start to assess local food providers from June – as part of their planned inspections of food premises – and the first hygiene ratings will be known in September. Ratings will be published on a national website from 1 September, and premises will be encouraged to display a certificate or sticker that shows their rating.

Businesses that will be assessed under the new scheme include restaurants, takeaways, cafes, sandwich bars, pubs, hotels and supermarkets, and other retailers selling food.

Letters, and an information leaflet, are being sent to all businesses selling food in the Shropshire Council area to let them know about the new scheme. A series of roadshow events are also being held in May to enable businesses and consumers to find out more.

Councillor David Roberts, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economy and waste, said: “I’m delighted that Shropshire Council has signed up to this new national scheme. It will act as a great advert for those businesses that comply with food hygiene law. Good food hygiene means a good hygiene rating, and a good rating should help them to attract and keep customers, which will therefore be good for business.”

Many councils already run their own food hygiene rating scheme but this is the first national food hygiene scheme.

For more information about the new scheme Shropshire food businesses can Shropshire Council’s food safety team on 0345 678 9000.