The following email from Spelthorne Council has been received by LOSRA and we are happy to reproduce it here:
If there’s one thing guaranteed to ruin your meal with friends, family or colleagues this Christmas, it’s a nasty bout of food poisoning.
But if you’re eating out, how do you know whether the restaurant owner takes food hygiene seriously?
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates the hygiene standards of restaurants and other places that sell food, based on inspections carried out by Spelthorne Council’s Environmental Health staff.
This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities, rates food outlets on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (urgent improvement necessary) to a top rating of five (very good).
So if you’re organising a Christmas gathering at a local restaurant, pub or hotel, make sure you check the venue’s hygiene rating before you book by visiting http://ratings.food.gov.uk/authority-search/spelthorne
You can also download a free phone app from the Council’s website or look out for the distinctive green and black rating sticker which food businesses are encouraged to display.
Councillor Jean Pinkerton, Spelthorne Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Independent Living said: “When choosing a restaurant you’ll automatically think about the type of food and service offered but I would also encourage you to check their food hygiene rating too. It only takes a minute and you can be reassured that the venue you choose takes food safety seriously and isn’t taking risks which could ruin your Christmas.”
