Food safety week
- 7 June 2012 14:18176882hadn't realised this was an annual thing, some handy hints here.
http://www.dover.gov.uk/environment/environmental_health/food_safety/food_safety_week.aspx - 7 June 2012 15:42176907That is certainly a very interesting link there Howard. It is all about food safety so worth having a look. Lots there about 'sell by' dates and 'use by' dates which can make most of us confused at the best of times. I didnt know that about eggs for example...most of us push the 'use by' dates a bit further but you can be in trouble doing it with eggs. More on that link to the DDC website.
email: dover7@msn.com - Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
7 June 2012 16:27176924The last sentence in the link says-
"You can view the rating of a food business by checking the sticker in the window, the certificate on display inside the premises or by going to the Food Standard Agency's website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings."
Surely the premises should be obliged to display the rating in the window. Quite often the certificate inside is hard to find, if displayed at all! If they are obliged to display it then action should be taken if they don't.
TerryQuis custodiet ipsos custodes? - 7 June 2012 16:32176925i have not seen any window stickers at all terry.
not much use inside anyway, a bit difficult to walk out once you are in a restaurant/cafe. - Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
7 June 2012 16:34176927They are about Howard. Premises with 3, 4 or 5 tend to display them in the window, lower than that they don't.
TerryQuis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
7 June 2012 21:49177006I have never been ill by eating food that is past its use by date, ok so long as it has been stored and cooked properly.
I was told years ago that if eggs do not float when put in water they are edible but mine have never been around long enough to test that theory.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 7 June 2012 22:15177013As stated by the Food Standards Agency
Does a food business have to show its rating?
No, so if you see a business without a hygiene rating sticker or certificate, you'll have to decide if you want to eat or buy food from there without knowing the hygiene standards.
Putting a hygiene rating on show is a good advertisement for businesses that meet the requirements of food hygiene law.
A good food hygiene rating is good for business
More can be found here
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/webpage/faqsen#elem007a
As a Catering Manager I am proud to show off my 5 stars which my team work hard to achieve and maintain. (No not an establishment in Dover)
When the inspector calls they will score against the following:
•standard of the structure, equipment and cleaning
•food handling practices
•confidence in food safety management
The rating is as follows:
•5 Star - Very Good
•4 Star - Good
•3 Star - Generally Satisfactory
•2 Star - Improvement Necessary
•1 Star - Major Improvement Necessary
•0 Star - Urgent Improvement Needed
It is hoped that this information will:
•allow you to make an informed choice about where you eat
•encourage food businesses which have high standards to continue to maintain them
•encourage those food businesses that have poor standards to improve
Since the scheme was introduced I do now look more closely for restaurant scores, not only in windows but also on line. It can make interesting reading. Its worth looking up a restaurant you are intending to visit - 8 June 2012 16:22177120Just noticed this thread, a very interesting read on that link Howard and as David B quite rightly points out we should be armed with the relevant information to make an informed choice and not just an educated guess which sadly seems to be the norm in too many establishments these days. On best before dates common sense, our eyes and nose should be all that is required to establish wether it is safe to eat or not.
Agree Terry #5 all premises should be obliged to display their certificates and taken to task if they dont. - 8 June 2012 19:03177154Made very interesting reading howard, we all try to be sensible with left over food and check those dates when shopping.
- 9 June 2012 07:46177201#7, they haven't got round to rating everyone yet, they have left smaller businesses they are happy with until last.
Most domestic kitchens would struggle to score a 1 using their box ticking methods. You can't score above a 2 unless you have a fully documented hygiene system, a written cleaning schedule, use different coloured boards for different foods and keep cooked and raw meat in separate fridges.
In an attempt to make the system idiot-proof they have removed all scope for common sense, on the basis that it's better to be safe than sorry.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson