Following Cheshire East Council's adoptions of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme the first set of star ratings for Wilmslow food businesses are now available.
Overall Wilmslow food businesses have rated highly following inspections, with 49% receiving 5 stars (very good) and 31% receiving 4 stars (good).
11% were considered generally satisfactory and awarded 3 stars, whilst 3% were awarded 2 stars (improvement necessary) and 5% were awarded 1 star and considered to require major improvements.
According to the Food Standards Agency website, two Wilmslow food businesses, out of the 147 inspected so far, were rated 0 because urgent improvements were considered necessary but we have been informed by Eastern Revive that their rating has been logged incorrectly and they actually received a five star rating.*
The ratings of just under 1,600 businesses in Cheshire East have gone live on the Food Standards Agency website. This first group includes food businesses where you would expect to buy and consume food on the premises, including pubs, cafes and restaurants.
The remaining food businesses in the Borough will join the scheme on a rolling programme over the next few months.
The three scoring areas used for the rating scheme are: how hygienically the food is handled – how it's prepared, cooked, cooled and stored; the condition of the structure of the building – the cleanliness, lighting, layout and ventilation and how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.
All of the businesses have been written to, informing them of their rating, and they have also been sent a certificate and a window sticker, which they can display.
Of the businesses inspected so far across Cheshire East: 573 were rated as five; 557 were rated as four; 234 were rated as three; 83 were rated as two; 119 were rated as one; and 12 were rated as zero.
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: "This new food hygiene system will let Cheshire East residents make an informed choice about where they go to eat out or shop for food. A high rating will also act as a good advertisement for the business and reassure customers.
"The scheme will also help our officers in their work of improving food hygiene standards. It will highlight which premises need our attention and assistance moving forward.
"The initial inspections show that nearly 70 per cent of our businesses achieved the top two ratings and we will seek to build on these impressive figures over the coming months."
To see the ratings for local businesses visit the Food Standards Agency website and type Wilmslow into the search box.
* Updated 10.10pm 22nd May.
Looking at the Eastern Revive certificate again and the comment on the Food Standards Agency website I noted their 5 star rating was issued 8th May 2012 and the inspection on the Food Standards Agency website was dated 29th November 2011. So I assume they have addressed the concerns of the inspector and since been re-assessed.
Comments
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However, when one looks at the Artisan's Market, and see people handling money with plastic gloves, then selecting food items for sale, where is the Inspector? Also there are no proper washing facilities on most food stalls, so is it that the Inspectors only work 5 days a week?
Remembering the Christmas Market outside Hoopers last Christmas, I made the specific point of looking on each hot food stall. No washing facilities at all.
I contacted our council department and got the answer ..." they have been inspected by another authority.... There were no notices to say so, so I suggest that some of the £900.00 office chairs are vacated and let us have a proper inspection