WEST Devon food businesses are being invited to attend seminars this April to assist them to get the highest rating under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

 Following on from the first acclaimed sessions last year the sessions at Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, will also provide an opportunity for businesses which already have the highest rating to help retain their award.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by West Devon Borough Council in partnership with the Food Standards Agency and provides consumers with information about the food hygiene standards in food outlets such as restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways, hotels and other places where people eat out, as well as supermarkets and other food shops.

The council has been involved since April 2011 with the initiative, which has a distinctive sticker giving a score of nought to five for the businesses to display at entry points and a certificate which should be displayed inside the premises. The rating can also be viewed on the Food Standards Agency website at http://www.food.gov.uk/ratings">www.food.gov.uk/ratings

 The scheme allows an informed choice of where to buy or eat food based on food hygiene standards. Since the introduction of the scheme, consumers have become increasingly aware of the ratings of those businesses they visit and now actively look for the display of the green and white sticker and certificate.

 

Hygiene standards are assessed during each inspection and a rating is awarded reflecting the level of compliance with hygiene laws. A score of five is very good but nought indicates major improvements are necessary.

The majority of food businesses operating locally have already achieved the highest rating of 'five' and the council is keen they retain this rating on subsequent inspections. In addition, there are those businesses that have not yet achieved a good rating because they do not fully comply with hygiene regulations.

The two sessions on April 9 will be run morning and afternoon (9.15am to 12.15pm and 2.15pm to 5.15pm). The council's food safety team will explain the rating scheme and how to comply with hygiene regulations, and focus on food safety management and the training of food handlers.

Cllr Robert Oxborough, the borough council's chairman of community services, said: 'We hope these seminars will help our local food businesses understand the hygiene rating scheme and comply with the rules.

'Residents are entitled to know how the places where they shop and eat are doing on food hygiene, and many customers now check the rating sticker before buying. I am delighted so many of our food outlets are already 'five' rated and would encourage those that aren't to strive for the top mark!'