Restaurant Hygiene Scores Now Online

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As 'Scores on the Doors' make inspection results available to consumers

As part of a new food safety and hygiene awareness campaign called "Scores on the Doors" that is extending across most London boroughs, the results of all the borough's restaurant, take-away and food shop inspection reports are now available on the internet.

The reports cover all aspects of safety and hygiene in around 1,700 food-related premises in Wandsworth. This includes hygiene and cleanliness assessments, checks on how safe foodstuffs are being stored and levels of safety and hygiene in kitchens and other food preparation areas.

Restaurants and food establishments which demonstrate the highest standards of hygiene will receive five stars. Where conditions are found to be unacceptable, no stars are awarded. Any food premises which scores a zero star rating can expect to face enforcement action under food hygiene laws.

Executive member for environment and leisure Malcolm Grimston said: "Consumers can now check a restaurant’s hygiene score in the same way they would the menu.   Making this information so readily accessible to the public is bound to attract widespread interest and raise expectations. We believe it will prove a real boost to driving up food hygiene standards.

"The council has run an independent awards scheme for many years encouraging local businesses to take food hygiene seriously. We are delighted to be part of this London-wide initiative which provides easy-to-understand information on every food establishment in the capital."

Restaurateurs are also being encouraged to display their own rankings in a prominent position at their premises where customers can see them.

The initiative is being run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency, which has created a central database of reports from across London.

Head of Strategy and Policy Branch at the FSA, Nathan Philippo said, "The Food Standards Agency is pleased to be working with local authorities across the country to deliver scores on the doors. We see increased consumer awareness as a key tool in the future of local authority
engagement with businesses."

Peter Williams Deputy CEO of London Connects said, “This pan London web service demonstrates London’s local authorities’ commitment to keep their customers informed of topics that matter to them. Delivering information locally and across London has resulted in authorities working together for a common cause – shared information and developing a common environmental health practice across London – a benefit to all.”

 

 

October 9, 2007