More consumers in Highland will have a new way to find out how well local food caterers and retailers are performing thanks to more food businesses being covered by the Food Hygiene Information scheme.
The Highland Council is one of the 32 Scottish local authorities taking part in the Scheme. The scheme covers a wide range of food businesses including takeaways, food retailers, cafes, restaurants and pubs. They are given certificates relating to their last hygiene inspection to be voluntarily displayed in their premises. The results will also join the food hygiene ratings for over 29,500 Scottish food businesses that can be found at www.food.gov.uk/ratings.
Initially developed by the Food Standards Agency Scotland, the scheme was piloted in Scotland for two years and has the backing of Scottish consumer organisations and industry. It is now running in 23 local authorities across Scotland and there are a number of other Councils working towards launch.
In Highland the scheme is being rolled out over the next eighteen months with the latest launch adding another 650 food businesses to the 1000 launched in May 2012. These new areas covered are:
• North West Sutherland (covering Lochinver round to Durness);
• Wester Ross (Covering Lochcarron up to Little Loch Broom);
• Further areas of Inverness. The whole City is now covered by the scheme;
• The Caol and Corpach areas in Lochaber.
Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of the TECS Committee said: "The scheme will help members of the public make an informed choice about where they choose to eat and I encourage all businesses meeting the pass standard to display their Pass Certificates. In these difficult economic times all food businesses will be under pressure but hygiene is one area where they cannot make cuts. If any food business operators have concerns or queries on food safety they should contact the Council's local Environmental Health offices for free advice."
Alan Yates, the Council's Environmental Health Manager, said: "We estimate about 87 per cent food businesses passed their last inspection. An 'improvement required' rating may be down be down to minor issues but in some cases it may be a result of significant health hazards. In these circumstances we will usually use our formal powers to protect the public. The publication of inspection ratings should encourage food business operators to fully comply first time with food safety legislation and also to contact council officers once any issues have been rectified."