More businesses in South Holland are achieving top ranked Food Hygiene Ratings.
Latest figures show that 38 firms were awarded the top five star rating following the last round of inspections in February.
And food lovers will also be pleased to learn that there are currently no businesses in the district with the lowest ranking of zero.
The Food Hygiene Rating tells you about the hygiene standards in restaurants and other food businesses. It’s really easy to check. Just go online and visit the Food Standards Agency website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings or if you’re out and about check for the green and black sticker; if you can’t see one, just ask.
Within South Holland there are currently (as of July 30) 626 Food Premises that have been rated. All businesses (including those that only sell drinks) are able achieve the top rating of 5.
Of the 626 rated premises:
337 are rated 5 (increase of 38 since Feb 15)
161 are rated 4 (drop of 15 since Feb 15)
99 are rated 3 (drop of 25 since Feb 15)
16 are rated 2 (increase of 4 since Feb 15)
13 are rated 1 (increase of 1 since Feb 15)
0 are rated 0 (drop of 2 since Feb 15)
(NB not all premises are required to be rated under the national rating scheme).
The ratings are determined by local authority food safety officers and range from 0 to 5, with a 5 rating meaning very good food hygiene standards.
The rating given by the officer shows how well the business is doing overall but also takes account of the element or elements most in need of improving and the level of risk to people’s health and the level of hygiene that these issues pose.
Coun Malcolm Chandler, portfolio holder for food safety, said: “The latest Food Hygiene Rating figures are extremely pleasing to see.
“An increase of 38 businesses achieving the top rating demonstrates clearly the commitment that business owners are putting into ensuring good food hygiene regimes.
“The latest figures mean that 95 per cent of businesses inspected are now ranked 3 or above and 54 per cent have a five star ranking.”
He added: “We are encouraging and supporting all food businesses to achieve the top rating. We consider the protection of the public as the highest priority and will deal firmly with those businesses where there are breaches of compliance to essential standards.
“I strongly recommend that members of the public use the ratings with confidence and enjoy meals out in establishments who show they care.”