A NEW Food Hygiene Rating Scheme will be brought into Huddersfield restaurants, shops and takeaways.
It is due to start on April 2 and will replace the existing “Scores on the Doors” scheme operated in Kirklees.
The new system is linked to a national scheme and means premises are graded the same in each area of the country.
Kirklees Council claims the new system will change the way food business hygiene standards are displayed to consumers.
The new scheme provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food.
It is a national scheme developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and is run locally in partnership with Kirklees Council.
Food businesses such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs are inspected regularly by food safety officers to check their hygiene standards meet legal requirements.
The hygiene standards are rated on a scale from zero at the bottom – meaning “urgent improvement necessary” – to a top rating of five – “very good”.
The ratings will be available for anyone to view on the FSA website at food.gov.uk/ratings
The food business will be given a sticker and certificate and encouraged to display these at the entrance of their premises.
Customers will be able to easily see the rating and decide if they want to go in.
Clr Peter McBride, Kirklees Council Cabinet member for investment and regeneration, said: “Scores on the Doors was a successful scheme, but we opted to change to the FHRS (Food Hygiene Rating Scheme) as we can see the benefits for local businesses and their customers.
“Having a single scheme which is consistent nationwide means that the rating will have the same significance wherever people are buying food.
“The public will be able to use the information when deciding which food outlets to visit and we hope that food businesses will recognise that displaying a good hygiene rating is good for business.
“We will continue to offer support to businesses scoring a low rating.”
From April 1 customers will be able to check the Food Hygiene Rating of any business on www.food.gov.uk/ratings
