Wrexham Council is urging people booking their Christmas meals to check the food hygiene ratings of local establishments before booking.
Good food hygiene has become easier to spot with the recent introduction of the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
The system rates restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafes, takeaways and other food establishments from 0 to 5 on their hygiene standards when a food hygiene inspection is carried out by Wrexham Council.
The ratings can be found online at: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/
Christmas party goers can also look out for the distinctive green and black stickers that businesses are encouraged to display at their outlets to tell their customers the rating they were given.
Cllr David Bithell, Lead Member for the Environment and Transport, said:
“When dining out, you’ll choose to go to a place where you like the food and you know you’ll have a good time. It makes sense to look before you book and check out the food hygiene rating as well.”
Steve Wearne, Director of the FSA in Wales added:
“The FHRS is all about putting the consumer first, supplying people with useful information on which to base their choice of where to eat.
“The FSA is working in partnership with Wrexham Council and other local authorities to introduce this scheme nationally. It means that when you eat out, be it in the area you live or further away, you can easily compare hygiene standards of different food outlets.”
Peter
November 30, 2011 at 12:31amYou are right to be wary about this system. Whilst it might not really let you know much about the hygiene standards, it is nevertheless, quite harmless.
Restaurants are graded on how the inspector finds them on the day of their visit – so really the grades are quite meaningless.
I’m actually glad to see that customers don’t pay any attention to the grading signs anymore.
chris jones
November 23, 2011 at 8:00pmThe Chuck Wagon (Burger Van)in Rhostyllen achieved 5 stars
CB
November 21, 2011 at 12:06amI’m wary of this system they brought in, as it meant that the ratings were much higher than they were before. It maybe that the establishments were quick to act and improve their ways, but some establishments have leaped from 1/2 to 5 and makes me think that it’s either a backhander or they have been told to prepare for an inspection.
LMT
November 20, 2011 at 8:20pmThank you for the link to the government site.The Wrexham Council section is easy to locate and search.Some places display their star grading. The chip shop on St Georges Crescent is one such 5 star
establishment.