Look before you book - don't let food poisoning ruin Xmas
People eating out in Exeter this Christmas should check out the restaurant or pub's food hygiene rating before they study the menu.
"If there is no sticker on the door or window of the restaurant, diners either need to ask themslves why this is the case or question the restaurant manager. Anyone who has a good rating of three or above has nothing to hide!" said Cllr Greg Sheldon, Lead Councillor for Environment and Leisure.
Environmental health oficers from the City Council carry out regular inspections of all eateries and places that sell food in Exeter. The results of their findings feed into the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafes, takeaways and other places that sell or serve food are given a score of zero to 5, depending on their hygiene standards. A zero score means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ and a 5 signifies 'very good’.
The ratings can be checked online at http://ratings.food.gov.uk/ Those eating out can also look out for the distinctive green and black stickers that businesses are encouraged to display to inform customers of the rating they were given.
Cllr Sheldon added: "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. But it does make sense to look before you book and check out the food hygiene rating as well. If there’s one thing guaranteed to ruin your Christmas meal out with friends, family or colleagues, it’s a nasty bout of food poisoning!"
Catriona Stewart, Head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the FSA, added: "No-one wants to gamble with their health when eating out, particularly when celebrating a special festive meal. Local authorities like Exeter City Council have worked with the FSA to successfully roll-out the scheme which helps people choose where to eat. Our app makes it even easier for people to check hygiene ratings before deciding which place to visit."
Recent research by the Agency has shown that nearly 17 million people suffer from stomach upsets in the UK every year and many more instances go unreported.
