Look out for the Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme when on holidays
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Fermanagh District Council was the first council in Northern Ireland to adopt the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in 2010.
Now, the scheme has been adopted by more than 250 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with more than 200,000 food hygiene ratings published.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme provides information about hygiene standards in restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways, hotels, supermarkets, food shops and other places you eat.
In areas such as Fermanagh where the scheme is running, each food business is given a food hygiene rating on a scale from 0 to 5 when it is inspected by an Environmental Health Officer. The top rating is ‘5’ – which means the hygiene standards are very good. The bottom is ‘0’ – which indicates urgent improvement is required.
In County Fermanagh, 75% of all food premises are rated as good or very good.
The Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme is a UK-wide initiative with the same branding and standards. When on holidays, make sure to keep an eye out for the food hygiene ratings window sticker or certificate (see below) that you are used to seeing in Fermanagh to help you choose where to eat out or shop for food.
By the end of 2012 it is anticipated the scheme will cover 97% of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means not all food businesses will have a hygiene rating yet. Some food businesses are also exempt from the scheme.
