Published on:
08
March 2013
If you are treating your mum to a meal out this Mother's Day (10th March), make sure you show her you care by checking the food hygiene standards as well as the menu.
Her favourite restaurant might look amazing and be getting great reviews, but how good is its hygiene? You can't judge hygiene by appearance alone which is why the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS), in partnership with local authorities, introduced the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS). Think of it as a way to see inside the restaurant kitchens and get some 'behind the scenes' information.
Restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafés, takeaways and other places that sell or serve food are given a food hygiene rating when they are inspected by a food safety officer from Clackmannanshire Council of either a 'Pass', when they have complied with food hygiene legislation, or 'Improvement Required' when standards need to be raised.
It's easy to check out the results by looking them up online at: food.gov.uk/ratings or by downloading our free 'food hygiene' app. You can also look out for the distinctive blue 'Pass' certificates and stickers that businesses are encouraged to display to show their customers the rating they were given.
Enterprise and Environment Convenor Councillor Donald Balsillie, said: "When dining out, especially with loved ones, you'll choose to go to a place where you like the food and you know you'll have a good time. It also makes sense to check out the food hygiene standards as well. You might be surprised by some of the results. It's possible that a cheap takeaway might have a better food hygiene rating than a smart, expensive restaurant."
Peter Midgley, head of enforcement at the FSAS, added: 'The FHIS is all about putting the consumer first, giving people useful information on which to base their choice of where to eat. The FSAS is working in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council and other local authorities to roll out this scheme nationally. We recommend that when you eat out you choose the places that have achieved a Pass.'