Scores on the Doors

 

What is scores on the doors?

'Scores on the doors' is a scheme which allows the public to view the latest hygiene rating following a programmed food hygiene inspection carried out by the Environmental Health Team.  The score will be in the form of a star rating.

Why is Mid Beds introducing the scheme?

Mid Beds is introducing the scheme for several reasons. We feel the scheme will help drive up food hygiene standards even further and will give the public information they are legally entitled to receive in a format they readily understand, such as a star rating. 

Is this a national scheme?

No. Several local authorities in the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire regions have signed up to the scheme  starting in April 2006 so you should expect to see a certificate on the front door of many food establishments in the region. The Food Standards Agency is currently piloting a number of projects across the UK with the view of introducing a national scheme.

Which businesses will get a star rating?

All businesses that form part of the Council’s inspection programme. This will include places like restaurants, takeaways, supermarkets and pubs serving / selling food.

Are there any businesses not part of the scheme?

Low risk businesses such as grocers not selling high risk food, pubs not serving food and chemists selling sweets are not part of the inspection programme and therefore will not receive a star rating. 

How will a business get a star rating?

Following a programmed inspection the officer will score the business based on a national scoring scheme endorsed by the Food Standards Agency. The officers are trained in scoring and have been doing this for years. For the first time, the scores given for hygiene, structure and management will be used to calculate a simple star rating for the business. The star rating will be issued on a certificate and sent to the business to display on the front door or front window.

What does the star rating mean?

The star rating lets you see at a glance the hygiene standards in the business at the time of inspection, with 1 star meaning fair, but still safe to eat and 5 stars meaning excellent standards of hygiene were demonstrated.   The hygiene rating given to premises on this web site has been based on the latest Primary Inspection carried out and as such represents the situation as found by the officer on the day of that inspection. Therefore the score may not be representative of the overall, long-term food hygiene standards of the business and should not be relied upon as a guide to food safety or food quality.

When will all businesses be rated?

The rating will be given when they are next inspected after the launch date of April 1st 2006. The inspection due date depends on when the business was last inspected and the hygiene conditions found at the time. The worst performing businesses are inspected more often than the better performing businesses. There are currently approximately 950 food businesses covered by this scheme in the district and it is anticipated it will take approximately two years to get round to all the businesses.

Can the star rating be changed?

Yes, but only when a food hygiene inspection is undertaken.  A food hygiene inspection will only take place when it is due unless there is a new business owner genrating a significant change in e.g. staff, practices, procedures etc. or if serious breaches of food legislation are identified during a routine visit.  

How often will the rating change?

As soon as a new food inspection has been completed.

Who will decide what star rating to give?

The officer undertaking the inspection.

Do businesses have to display their star rating?

No. Displaying the certificate is voluntary however if they do wish to display the certificate then it must be visible from the outside of the premises therefore enabling the public to view the latest hygiene score before deciding to enter. However, the Council will be displaying the scores on its website.

How can I find out what star rating is given to a particular business?

You can ask the business directly for their score or you can visit the Council’s website for the list of businesses inspected and their scores. The website will be updated on a monthly basis and the first posting will be in May 2006.

What do I do if the business is not displaying its certificate?

There may be a perfectly good reason for this. The business may still be awaiting an inspection or may have been inspected and waiting for a new certificate to be issued. The business may not have been awarded a certificate as standards were poor at the time of the inspection. Remember: to get a 1 star a basic safe standard needs to be achieved!

What if a businesses disagrees with the star rating?

The rating is based on a professional officer’s inspection and will not normally be changed. However, if a business believes it has not been treated fairly the Council’s formal complaints procedure can be used and the matter will be investigated. The score will change at the next food hygiene inspection only which can be anytime between 6 months and 2 years. 

Who do I contact if I want more information about the scheme?

You can phone and speak to anyone in the Environmental Health Food Team on 08452 304040, email customer.services@midbeds.gov.uk.

How do I know if the certificate on display is valid and genuine?

Following a food hygiene inspection the previous certificate will be collected by the inspecting officer and destroyed.  Each certificate is printed on special paper and there is also a unique certificate number on the front of the certificate. In addition, the website will offer a list of food businesses and their scores.

How do I find out about the latest food hygiene ratings?

For the latest food hygiene ratings for businesses please go to www.foodscores.co.uk