For immediate release
PR 232
16 August 2006
The vast majority of food premises visited by Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s inspectors have received high ratings, according to a report which goes to the local authority’s Cabinet next week.
The Council’s food safety team, led by Commercial Manager Derryth Wright introduced a food star rating scheme earlier this year to help customers decide which food premises, everything from restaurant and cafes to corner shops, has high standards.
Of the premises inspected by July, 82 per cent had received between three and five stars (the top accolade).
“This is extremely pleasing and we hope to see the number increase next year,” said Derryth.
The five-star scheme is just one of the points covered in the Food Safety Service Plan 2006-2007.
It also showed that during the last year the team carried out 607 routine inspections of food premises.
During that period persistent offenders were targeted resulting in three premises being closed, three had food seized and 15 were subject to formal notices which means they could face prosecution if improvements are not made.
The Food and Safety Team also received 61 complaints about food hygiene which were investigated and 23 concerning foreign bodies in food, such as a pen lid in a joint of beef, and a mouldy sausage roll.
There has been a welcome reduction of five per cent in the number of high risk Category A premises, but a slight rise to 23 per cent in Category B which entails the premises receiving annual inspections.
The team has the responsibility for food safety enforcement on all premises handling food, this year the number rose to 1781 - the highest proportion of which are cafes and restaurants.
Food Safety inspectors are required by the Foods Standards Agency to inspect a certain proportion of premises each year. The 2005/6 target was 735 the team carried out 607 checks.
“During the last year we had a team member constantly occupied by the work made necessary with the changes in licensing laws, which made the Council the licensing body,” explained Derryth.
“Despite the heavier workload we did not have any extra manpower, which means we carried out 83 per cent of the inspections. We also had an increase in the number of formal enforcement actions we had to carry out against persistent offenders.”
But the service given by the Food Safety Team has seen a number of improvements in procedures which means the Food Standards Agency will no longer carry out annual audits on it, and businesses have greater access to information from the team on our website.
For further information call Commercial Manager Derryth Wright on 01493 846547.Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513