BYRON SHIRE residents and diners can now see how well local food businesses are complying with food hygiene and safety requirements, Byron Shire Council’s Director of Sustainable Environment and Economy Shannon Burt announced today.
Byron Shire is the latest council to join the state wide Scores on Doors program, which aims to improve food safety standards and to reduce the instance of food borne illness in the retail food industry.
“Scores on Doors offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to show customers just how seriously they take food hygiene and the results they have achieved by displaying a rating certificate on their door,” Ms Burt said.
The certificates reflect the result of a regular hygiene and food safety inspection. This means that what was previously only known to inspectors is now available to diners.
Residents, visitors and workers in the Byron Shire Council area demand a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day.
“Scores on Doors gives customers an idea of what’s going on in the kitchen and out the back at your favourite restaurant, café or takeaway.
“If you see a restaurant displaying the purple and green poster you can dine there safe in the knowledge it has met minimum hygiene and food safety standards during the last food inspection and if its not displaying one, ask why,” Ms Burt said.
The rating system of Excellent (5 stars), Very Good (4 stars) and Good (3 stars), all represent various levels of compliance with the Food Standards Code. Council officers inspect businesses and rate their hygiene and food safety standards. The rating includes such things as food temperature control, food prepared in advance of service, food handler hygiene, cleaning and sanitisation and pest control.
Scores on Doors also creates greater consistency in food hygiene inspections around NSW as councils use standardised inspection checklists and gives greater visibility and transparency of compliance by food businesses.
“Byron Shire Council is proud to be part of Scores on Doors and doing it’s part to reduce illness from food and ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy their meals safely,” Ms Burt said.
Byron Shire Council is the 53rd council in NSW to join the program.
For more information visit www.byron.nsw.gov.au or www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/scoresondoors