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One year after the launch of its food safety star rating scheme for food premises, Great Yarmouth Borough Council is proud to announce that more than 400 gained three stars or more - with 21 businesses getting the acclaimed five star rating. The scheme was launched in January 2006 by the Council’s Environmental Health department. When a food business receives a food hygiene inspection they are given a star rating to illustrate their compliance with food safety legislation.
“We award up to five stars based, among other things, on the good practices and procedures carried out within the company,” explained Environment and Health Commercial Manager, Sarah Cawston.
“The scheme applies to everything from restaurants, cafes and food producers to corner shops who sell sandwiches.
“We carry out regular inspections and as part of these we look at three particular areas: practices, structure and confidence in management.
“This covers a raft of things including documentation of temperature control, cleanliness of the premises, condition of the building… down to hand washing facilities for staff.”
The higher the score the lower the star rating – and the chance that the team will have to visit again to see that recommendations to improve standards are being complied with.
“To date we have inspected just over 500 premises,” added Sarah. “So it is welcoming to see that more than 80 per cent are rated three star and above.
“Once inspected the results are put onto our website at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk, and a window sticker is also supplied for the business to display so that customers can see how they are rated.
It isn’t only hotels and restaurants that are awarded the coveted five-star award. The latest recipient is Ivydene a 17-bed residential home for the mentally ill in Ormesby.
Ivydene had already put procedures into place such as good temperature control and record keeping before they became law last year.
“We believe that good hygiene is the most powerful weapon against infection,” said owner Maureen Martin. “We have cleaning schedules and all our staff are regularly trained in food preparation and handling skills, and hold food hygiene certificates.
“Being awarded the five-stars is an acknowledgement of the hard work of the staff to meet the highest standards.”
“The star rated system is a good indication of the high standards many businesses in the Borough achieve,” commented Councillor Jim Shrimplin cabinet member with responsibility for Environment. “It also demonstrates that the Council takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that food premises are clean and well run.”
“We would like to know how useful residents and businesses find the five-star scheme,” added Sarah. “If people have comments to make please can they contact me on 01493 846547 or email sac@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.”
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