Worcestershire joins national food hygiene standards scheme

Diners across Worcestershire will now be better informed about the hygiene standards of food outlets across the county, thanks to a new scheme launched on today, Friday June 15.

Until recently a locally run Scores on the Doors system has been used to measure hygiene standards in Worcestershire restaurants, cafes, pubs and butchers.

Now Worcestershire Regulatory Services – responsible for Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing services – has launched the new national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in the county.

The new scheme, which is in the process of being rolled out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will mean that all food outlets will be measured by the same standard across Worcestershire and beyond.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Chairman of Worcestershire Regulatory Services said: “Although the previous Scores on the Doors scheme was very successful, we believe that moving to the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme will bring benefits for local food businesses and their customers.

“Having a single scheme which is consistent nationwide means that the ratings will have the same significance wherever people are buying or selling food – and that will help tourists visiting the area and businesses which trade across the Worcestershire border.

“Worcestershire people will be able to use the information when deciding where to eat and we hope that food companies will recognise that displaying a good hygiene rating is good for business.”

Cllr Hodgson joined Lord Rooker, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency, to launch the new scheme at the Three Counties Show, held in Malvern, on Friday June 15.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food.

Local food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are inspected by food safety officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. 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”).

Ratings for Worcestershire catering establishments and butchers’ shops which sell both raw and ready to eat foods are available for anyone to view on the FSA website at food.gov.uk/ratings from June 15 starting with the County’s highest rated businesses. Food business will also be encouraged to display a window sticker and certificate at the entrance to their premises so that customers can easily see them and decide if they want to eat or shop there.

Around one million people suffer from food poisoning every year and the FSA’s aim in developing the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is to reduce this number by encouraging all businesses to reach the highest standards. 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.

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, as well as further from home. So it’s great news that the Worcestershire authorities have announced their intention to switch to the new national scheme.”