Help is at hand

Many caterers registering for the healthyliving award would welcome the opportunity of seeing it in practice and learning from others.

A number of caterers who have already achieved the award have agreed to act as mentors to caterers going through the process for the first time. They are willing to chat by phone or email and pass on their tips and ideas. Depending on location, it may even be possible to arrange a site visit so that new applicants can see how the award works in practice.

Wherever possible we will try to match caterers with a mentor in a similar type of business.

If you have registered for the award and would like to be put in touch with a mentor, please contact the healthyliving award team on 0141 226 5261 or email asktheteam@healthylivingaward.co.uk.

The Food Hygiene Information Scheme –
building consumer confidence
By Peter Midgley, Food Standards Agency Scotland

In December 2008 the Board of the Food Standards Agency agreed to continuation of a two-tier format in Scotland for providing consumer information about local authority hygiene inspections (so-called 'scores on the doors'). This format had been piloted over two years in Scotland in five local authority areas as the Food Hygiene Information Scheme with the involvement and support of Consumer Focus Scotland (CFS) on the pilot project Steering Group.

The scheme provides a standard framework for local authorities to inform consumer choice, and through this, encourages businesses to improve standards. It also meets needs established earlier by both the Agency and CFS for greater transparency for consumers about the outcomes of hygiene inspections. Under the scheme, businesses are provided with 'Pass' certificates which they may display voluntarily at the premises to confirm that the establishment has been inspected and has met the required legal standard. An 'Awaiting Inspection' category is provided for new businesses and 'Improvement Required' for those failing to meet the 'Pass' standard. In areas where the scheme is operated, the local authority will publish a complete listing for all catering and retail businesses and the current assessment according to each of these categories.

The scheme is designed to be an integral part of the local authority inspection programme so does not involve new inspections. Since it is based on compliance with legal requirements there is no change to the requirements that a business has to meet. However, the EAT safe Award scheme will continue to operate for businesses wishing to demonstrate the attainment of standards beyond compliance.

On 6 April East Lothian Council became the first authority to join the five existing pilot authorities (Aberdeen City, City of Edinburgh, Fife, Perth and Kinross and Renfrewshire) since the FSA Board's decision in December. Initial feedback from local authorities across Scotland indicates that a further sixteen are likely to adopt the scheme over the next three financial years and the Agency will continue to work closely with these authorities to support implementation of the scheme.

For the Agency, the longer term aim will be ideally to have a UK-wide approach to 'scores on the doors' to ensure consistency for consumers across the whole of the UK.

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