Make sure you only get love sick this Valentines Day
With Valentine’s Day approaching Hackney Council is reminding people to check the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme before choosing where to dine.
Whatever the recipe for eating out this Valentine’s Day, before reserving a table at that romantic hotspot, the cosy little café, or ordering a takeaway on the way home it’s important to make sure it’s one of the 1352 eateries in Hackney with a rating of three or more.
Hackney Council’s environmental health team inspects every restaurant and take away in the borough to ensure they are meeting certain hygiene standards. The team also works very hard to support those businesses that want to improve their ratings. The public should look for the rating sticker on the window or online so they can be confident they are eating their romantic meals in places where food hygiene is taken seriously.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by Hackney Council. Businesses in the area are rated on a scale ranging from 0 which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’.
Catriona Stewart, Head of Food Hygiene Ratings team at the Food Standards Agency, said: “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a great tool when choosing where to eat out, particularly when celebrating a special meal, because it tells you what’s going on in the kitchen and behind the scenes. For local eateries, a good rating will be good for business during this busy time .”
Look out for the green and black food hygiene rating stickers displayed on windows and doors. If you can’t see a sticker, then ask staff, check online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings or download the app.