Food Standards Agency
Thursday 24 July 2008
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What is RSS?The Agency has sponsored a number of local authorities across the UK to participate in a variety of pilot schemes.
Under these schemes, a score is given by the local authority to the business based on an assessment of the level of compliance with food hygiene legislation and in most (but not all) cases this is directly related to a risk-rating scheme in the Food Law Codes of Practice which local authorities work to.
The risk-rating scheme is used to determine the frequency of inspections that should take place and is based on the assessment of a number of criteria: the potential hazard; the level of (current) compliance with food hygiene legislation by the business; and, the confidence in management and in control systems.
This risk-rating scheme is generally also used to derive the score that tells consumers how good the hygiene standards of the establishment are.
The aim is for the score to be displayed on the at the point of sale, supported by website information.
Back to topSix local authorities are taking part in the Midlands Scores on the Doors pilot, although one authority, Kingston-upon-Hull City Council, is outside the geographical area of the Midlands. The six authorities are running different schemes and more information on these is available from their websites.
Scottish consumers can see how well food businesses in their area have fared in their last food hygiene inspection, as part of a two-year food hygiene information pilot scheme launched on 6 November 2006. It effectively 'opens the door' to the kitchen and/or food areas. This will increase consumer confidence and help people make informed choices about where they eat or buy their food.
Most London Boroughs, eight other local authorities in England and two authorities each in Wales and Northern Ireland are participating in this. Some of the schemes have already started, others will be starting soon. All of these authorities are running the same '5-star' scheme.
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