Food ratings are on the up in Mid Sussex!

Since the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme started, more Mid Sussex food businesses have opened and a higher number are achieving better scores, month after month. This is great news for businesses and excellent news for the customers eating at the restaurants, pubs or hotels in the district.

Good food hygiene is getting easier to spot these days, with the introduction in April 2011 of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Restaurants, pubs, hotels, (as well as cafes, takeaways and other places selling or serving food) are now being rated from 0 - 5 on their hygiene standards when a food hygiene inspection is carried out by Mid Sussex District Council.

Thanks to additional support and training by Mid Sussex District Council, 927 food businesses score between 3 and 5, with 616 scoring top marks. As well as this, an additional 126 food businesses have opened and the Council has assisted the owners by providing advice and starter packs to help them run a successful outlet.

With Christmas fast approaching, plans are being made for the festive period. So, if you are organising a gathering with family, friends or work colleagues at a local restaurant, pub or hotel, you can now check out the food hygiene rating, as well as the menu. It is easy to see the ratings by going to www.food.gov.uk/ratings. Christmas party goers can also look out for the distinctive green and black stickers that businesses are encouraged to display at their outlets to tell their customers the rating they were given.

“I am sure being able to compare the food hygiene standards within pubs, restaurants or hotels will help when choosing where to arrange a Christmas party,” said Councillor Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community. “It is only right that the customer is supplied with relevant information when deciding where to eat and I hope that visitors to the area see how well we compare with other districts and decide to make the most of the wide choice of establishments Mid Sussex has to offer.

“I am particularly pleased about the improvements in outlets’ scores and I believe much of this is down to high quality training from the council and forming good relationships with the business owners.”