Minister Warned Of Food Safety 'Folly'

---

Cllr Grimston asks Food Minister to think again....

The council's spokesman on consumer protection has called on the Government to abandon controversial plans to scrap the country's rigorous system of food safety testing.

Cllr Malcolm Grimston has written to Food Minister Lord Rooker and urged him to think carefully before dropping the "Scores on the Doors" five-star food safety ratings.

Government quango the Food Standards Agency wants to drop the five star scheme and replace it with a weaker and less comprehensive system, either involving three stars or even an unsophisticated pass/fail regime.    

Wandsworth firmly believes that the existing five star system of testing is more likely to drive up safety and hygiene standards in the industry and ensure that the public gets a better level of service from the restaurants, takeaways, shops, supermarkets and other food businesses.

Yet despite this system being preferred by 169 councils up and down the country, the FSA still plans to scrap it. 

In his letter to Lord Rooker, Cllr Grimston warns: "It would be pure folly for the Government to abolish it."

His letter adds: "There seems to be little rationale for such a drastic and unnecessary change, yet the move towards this unwelcome shift in policy seems to be gathering pace. It is proceeding in the face of a growing amount of evidence that indicates that a decision to scrap the existing scheme would run the very serious risk of lowering safety standards in an industry that affects every man, woman and child in this country.

"Indeed many of the environmental health officers I have spoken to about this proposal, who work on the frontline of food safety, are aghast that such a change is even being contemplated.

"Our experience has been that whenever a restaurant is given a low score under the five star system, there is a real incentive for them to quickly improve that score. Businesses that have scored only two out of five stars, which is only borderline compliance with food hygiene laws, have clearly understood that they need to rapidly raise their game, and in virtually all the cases we have seen this is precisely what they have done.    

"If this is replaced with a three star system or a simple pass or fail regime then that incentive to improve will be lost. Businesses will instead do just the bare minimum required. Instead of improving conditions the Government will have driven down standards in the industry.   

"And by introducing a less rigorous system of assessment, consumers will be starved of the information they need to make informed choices about where they should shop or eat."

Cllr Grimston, who is the council's cabinet member for environment and leisure is now urging local people to have their say on the proposals before August 15, when the FSA's public consultation on the changes is scheduled to finish.

Cllr Grimston said: "This is a very important issue and so it is vital that consumers have their say. Unfortunately, even though the FSA says it is consulting the public, this potential change is not being flagged up prominently on their website and the consultation period ends in just a few days time, on August 15.

"I would urge anyone with a view on this issue to email your thoughts directly to the FSA. The Chair of the FSA Board is Dame Deirdre Hutton CBE and you can make sure she hears what you think by emailing Sue.Johns@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.

"I would also send a copy your email to Lord Rooker at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by sending it to helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk."

Residents can also let the town hall know their views on the FSA's proposed changes by emailing sokane@wandsworth.gov.uk or telephoning (020) 8871 6166.

The council will use the information given to it by the public to respond to the FSA's consultation.

 

August 15, 2008