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Scores on the Doors is a scheme that allows the public to view hygiene ratings following a routine food hygiene inspection by the local authority. Under the scheme, each food outlet may display inspection information on the door or window. This information will also be supported by a website, where consumers will be able to look up a food business hygiene rating on-line. Many people are requesting inspection reports and information from their local authority under the Freedom of Information legislation. This scheme will provide this information in a more accessible way.
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At the moment there is no national scheme, however the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are piloting a number of schemes across the UK with a view to introducing a preferred scheme within the next year. The Agency will be making a recommendation about the criteria for a preferred scheme in March 2008.
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It is proposed that all catering businesses will be included in the scheme including restaurant, cafés, takeaways, delicatessens, care homes, hotels, and pubs serving food.
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It is proposed that low risk businesses or those which are inaccessible to the public will not be included, for example, newsagents, wholesalers, home caterers. These businesses are still included as part of the council's food hygiene inspection programme even though they may not be part of the scores on the doors scheme.
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Scoring is based on criteria set out in the food law code of practice. The criteria within the code of practice look at the level of risk a food business poses to consumers and a score is given based directly on that risk. The three criteria used for providing a rating under the scores on the doors scheme include the following:
The scheme does not reflect the quality of the food being served; it is about how hygienic the premises are.
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Hastings Borough Council are intending to launch Scores on the Doors by April 2009 in conjunction with other Sussex authorities. It is envisaged that scoring businesses in line with the above criteria will begin in April 2008, although that information will not be available on-line until the scheme is formally launched.
Further information about Scores on the Doors can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.
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This page last updated: 13/02/2008