Hampshire Safe2Eat initiative

Safe2Eat is a “Scores on the Doors” scheme that was introduced across Hampshire during the summer of 2008. It designed to give the public the opportunity to make informed choices about where they buy food from or where they choose to eat. The information the initiative provides, relates to the overall food safety standards found at the last food safety assessment.

Why have we introduced Safe2Eat?

There are several reasons. “Scores on the doors” schemes in other countries have resulted in dramatic improvements in the food safety and hygiene of food businesses. It also provides the public with the information they are legally entitled to receive about standards of food hygiene and safety, in a format that can be readily understood.  Consumers can then make an informed choice about where to eat or to buy their food.

Which businesses get a rating?

All businesses that form part of the Council’s inspection programme. This includes places like restaurants, takeaways, pubs, supermarkets and shops serving/selling food. Premises will not receive a rating unless they have received a primary food hygiene inspection and assessment by an authorised food safety officer. As a intended improvement to the scheme businesses awaiting an inspection will shortly be displayed with an  A - awaiting an inspection symbol.
 

What is a Primary Food Hygiene Inspection?

A Primary food hygiene inspection is one where an authorised officer has carried out a full inspection of the business which includes the conditioin of the structure , the cleanliness, any observed risk to food safety, pest control and an audit of the business's documented food safety procedures.

What is a revisit?

All premises rated "Unsatisfactory" will receive a revisit (also known as a secondary inspection). This is where an officer of the council visits the food business to ascertain whether they have carried out the works required following a primary food hygiene inspection. As this is not a full inspection no re-rating is carried out at this time.

What does the rating mean?

Following a primary food hygiene inspection of the business the officer will score it based on a national priority rating system as endorsed by the Food Standards Agency. Officers have received additional training in the scoring system to ensure that consistency is maintained. There are three main areas that are scored by inspectors, these are:

1. An assessment of how hygienic the practices used by the business are;
2. The structural conditions at the premises and the level of cleanliness;
3. The confidence in food safety management procedures and that standards will be maintained.

These scores are then compared to the hazard that the food operations at the business present to the public. For instance we can afford to be less concerned about a garage that sells wrapped sweets as there is little that can go wrong. Now consider a factory that produces thousands of ready meals. Here there may be the potential for disaster on a large scale if something goes wrong, and therefore we would expect the highest standards to be maintained at all times.

When this has been done, we can determine whether the business can be considered "Excellent", "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory" overall.

A certificate displaying the rating is then provided to the food business which they can display in their premises.

What if the business is “Unsatisfactory”?

It does not necessarily mean that it is unsafe to eat food from the business. In these cases the premises is likely to be the subject of formal enforcement action by the Council in order to raise standards and ensure that the business does not pose an unacceptable risk to the public. This action could include:

• A written warning letter(Action Plan). The matters listed and the time period for compliance will have been agreed with the food business operator.
• The use of  Hygiene Improvement Notices, which require businesses to do essential works within a fixed timescale.
• Prohibition notices that may stop a business trading, an activity occurring, or the use of part of the premises.
• Simple cautions or Prosecution.
  

Enforcement action will be taken according to guidelines laid down in the Council’s Enforcement Policy. This has been produced to ensure that officers make sound enforcement decisions that concur with guidance laid down by The Cabinet Office. Unsatisfactory businesses will remain indicated as such on the Safe2Eat website for a minimum period of three months. A minimum period is required to ensure that the local authority has confidence in a business maintaining standards and is compliant with legislation.  You can view the Enforcement Policy at www.easthants.gov.uk/foodsafety

Why aren’t Unsatisfactory premises just closed down?

It does not mean that it is unsafe to eat food from the business. The law gives Environmental Health staff a wide range of options to deal with food businesses that do not comply with food hygiene rules and regulations, depending on the circumstances of the case. Some of these have already been explained. They may decide to use these options instead. It may not be necessary to close the premises if the inspecting officer is satisfied that there is not an imminent risk to health from eating food from the premises. However some businesses still fall below the required standards and we need to take action in order to ensure they meet them, and to ensure that standards do not continue to fall. These businesses are in the minority but we feel that you need to know about them.

When will all businesses be rated?

Existing businesses will be rated using their current primary food hygiene score. The safe2eat rating will be reassessed at any primary food hygiene inspection. All of our businesses are on a rolling programme of inspections. How often the business is inspected will depend on matters such as the type of food and catering it does, and the food hygiene and safety standards of the business. The worst performing businesses are inspected more often than the better performing businesses. We often have cause to visit premises at times other than at those programmed times though, for instance if there has been a complaint about the premises or for food sampling. If conditions have found to have changed during these visits and a primary food hygiene inspection is carried out then the rating will be updated. This may result in the premises rating changing, for better or worse.

Do businesses have to display their rating?

No. Displaying the certificate is voluntary. However, if they do wish to display the certificate, it must be visible from the outside of the premises. Therefore, a member of the public is able to view the latest hygiene rating before deciding to enter. However, the Council will be displaying the ratings on its website.

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

Ratings for all businesses in East Hampshire and across the rest of Hampshire can be found at www.safe2eat.com

What if a business disagrees with the 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.

Isn’t all this a waste of my Council Tax?

We don’t think so. The system itself is easy to administer as it uses data that is already routinely collected and collated by us as part of our everyday work. “Scores on the Doors” systems have already proven their cost effectiveness in other countries such as Denmark and the USA, where the number of businesses who comply with the law has significantly increased. This means that they need fewer assessments from inspectors, rates of food borne disease have fallen meaning fewer hospital admissions and consumers are able to eat confidently from a wider range of food businesses. The Consumers Association "Which" has already shown widespread public support for such schemes.

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

You can contact anyone in the Environmental Health Food Safety Team, Tel: 01730 266551 or email safe2eat@easthants.gov.uk .