PR 269

For Immediate Release

17 October 2006

The implementation of new food hygiene regulations has seen Great Yarmouth Borough Council considerably increase its use of interpreters to help caterers of several nationalities keep the right side of the law.

The regulations, which came into operation earlier this year, makes the keeping of written records compulsory on aspects such as the temperature of refrigerators, and storing food at correct temperatures.

“Proper record keeping has always been a feature of good catering practices,” said Environmental Health Technical Officer Elaine Smith.

“But now the law says written records must be kept in order to help caterers answer any enquiries about potential problems created by food which has not been properly stored or prepared.

“The rules are designed to protect the public and the caterer.

“In the past although we have used interpreters to help when we have visited catering premises, often there have been family members or staff who could speak English well enough for us to make ourselves understood.

“But now we must ensure that everybody has the knowledge they need to keep the records. We are using either visits by interpreters or a phone link to help.

“A high proportion of food outlets in the borough are run by people of differing cultures. We have spoken to people in the Portuguese, Turkish, Bengali, and Chinese communities to name but a few.

“This has meant that the rate we have used the services of interpreters has grown considerably, for example, just for Chinese speaking clients we have taken interpreters into premises on seven different occasions recently.

“Our visits enable caterers to ask any questions and also, when necessary, they have been shown how to fill in the documents.

“We have written information in about 30 languages, and a CD rom which will help people to understand and comply with the regulations. A lecturer in Norwich is also willing to run food hygiene courses in Cantonese and Mandarin if there is sufficient interest.”

Good practices help food outlets to score high in the Council’s star rating system which allows customers to identify which establishments have the highest standards. Five stars are the tops – and starfood_safety_awards.

The translation service is provided free to the catering establishments through Interpretation and Translation for Norfolk (INTRAN). The organisation was established in 2000 to aid statutory organisations throughout the county provide a translation service.

For further information contact Environmental Health Technical Officer Elaine Smith on 01493 846451.

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513