Diners advised – look before you book!

That's the advice from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Environmental Health Officers this festive season - especially if you are organising gatherings with family, friends or work colleagues at a local restaurant, pub or hotel.  

Good food hygiene has become easier to spot, with the recent introduction of the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).  

Restaurants, pubs, hotels, (as well as cafes, takeaways and other places that sell or serve food) are now being rated from 0 - 5 on their hygiene standards when the Council's Environmental Health staff carry out food hygiene inspections.  

In April, Southend changed from the old "Scores on the Doors" star ratings to the new rating system favoured by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

It's easy to check the ratings of most venues online at   http://ratings.food.gov.uk/

Christmas partygoers can also look out for the distinctive green and black stickers that businesses are encouraged to display to tell their customers the rating they were given.  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, Councillor Tony Cox 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.'

A Food Standards Agency spokesperson 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 local authorities to introduce this scheme nationally.

"It means that when you eat out you can easily compare hygiene standards of different food outlets."  

Recent research by the Agency has shown that nearly 17 million people suffer from stomach upsets in the UK every year. 

Many more instances go unreported. Nobody wants to have their Christmas festivities ruined and the food hygiene ratings will help you and your friends to avoid upset - there's safety in numbers. 

·         The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is not a guide to food quality

·         Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's food safety officers will inspect businesses to see how well they are meeting food hygiene laws. This includes:

-      how hygienically the food is handled in preparation, cooking, cooling and storage;

-      the condition and structure of the building including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, equipment etc,

-      how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.

-      Any business should be able to achieve the top rating of '5'.  

·         Food safety officers will explain to the person who owns or manages the business if improvements need to be made; what they are, and how they can achieve a higher rating.