Singleton residents and diners can now see how well local food businesses are complying with food hygiene and safety requirements thanks to a new easy-to-follow rating system.
The Scores on Doors program aims to improve food safety standards and reduce the instance of food borne illness in the retail food industry.
The program offers food businesses the opportunity to show customers how seriously they take food hygiene and the results they have achieved during their usual hygiene and food safety inspection by displaying a rating certificate on their door.
Singleton Council General Manager Lindy Hyam says inspection results that were previously only known to inspectors are now available to diners.
“Residents, visitors and workers in the Singleton Local Government area demand a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day,” she said.
“Scores on Doors gives customers an idea of what’s going on in the kitchen and out the back at their favourite restaurant, caf√© and takeaway.”
“If you see a restaurant displaying the purple and green poster you can dine there safe in the knowledge it has met minimum hygiene and food safety standards during the last food inspection and if its not displaying one, ask why.”
The rating system of Excellent (5 stars), Very Good (4 stars) and Good (3 stars), all represent various levels of compliance with the Food Standards Code.
Council officers regularly inspect businesses and rate their hygiene and food safety standards. The rating includes such things as food temperature control, food prepared in advance of service, food handler hygiene, cleaning and sanitisation and pest control.
Scores on Doors also creates greater consistency in food hygiene inspections across NSW as councils use standardised inspection checklists and provide greater visibility and transparency of compliance by food businesses.
Council has been celebrating food businesses who have achieved an Excellent 5 Star rating by announcing them on its Facebook page and maintaining a list on its website.
Image | Cervo’z Caf√© & Catering’s Gina Frazer, Erin Palmer and Romy Lebrocq.
