Takeaway menus must now show hygiene score
TAKEAWAY food businesses will now be forced to promote their food hygiene ratings on leaflets and menus – even if they were given a ‘zero’.
It is exactly three years since Wales became the first country in the UK to create a statutory food hygiene rating scheme.
The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 made it compulsory for all food businesses – such as restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, hotels and supermarkets – to publicly display their food hygiene rating at their premises.
The scheme has proved extremely successful in driving up hygiene standards.
Latest figures show that more than 94% of food businesses in Wales now have a generally satisfactory rating or higher (three or above), with 62.5% of Welsh food businesses having the highest five rating (very good).
In comparison, just prior to the legislation coming into force in November 2013, 87% of Welsh food businesses had a rating of three or above and the number of businesses with a five rating was 45%.
From today, if a takeaway leaflet or menu shows food for sale, the price and a way of ordering the food without visiting the premises, it will also have to include a bilingual statement encouraging customers to check the food hygiene rating of the business on the food hygiene ratings website.
The statement will also remind customers that they have a legal right to ask the food business for their food hygiene rating when they order over the phone.
The legislation also enables food businesses to voluntarily display their valid food hygiene rating on this type of publicity material – but if they do so, the rating must be valid and in the specified format so it can be clearly seen.
Rebecca Evans, Minister for Social Services and Public Health, said: “The food hygiene scheme has been one of the great success stories of ‘made-inWales’ legislation.
“It has been key to driving up standards in restaurants, pubs, cafes and other food businesses across Wales.
“I am delighted that since the start of the scheme, 7% more food businesses now have a satisfactory rating or higher and 17.5% more businesses now boast the maximum five rating.
“This progress is something everybody involved in the scheme, including food businesses, should be very proud of.
“The new rules coming into force today are designed to offer extra protection to customers ordering food over the phone or online, who will not have the opportunity to see the rating physically displayed in the premises before ordering.
“The display of the statement on leaflets will encourage consumers to view the rating online and to ask the takeaway food business for their food hygiene rating over the phone before ordering.” THIS month Cwm Taf CHC has been out and about talking to registrants of the Ynysangharad Branch Surgery following the merger of the branch with the Pontypridd Health Centre.
The results of our survey with the patients we talked to will be available on our website in early January 2017.
We also took part in an all-Wales Care of the Elderly Community Hospital Survey, looking specifically at the negative impact that boredom and isolation has on older people in hospital.
You might well ask why we would choose to focus on this issue. Our role is to speak on behalf of the public and patients, particularly those who would otherwise not be heard.
While there has been much research focusing on patients with cancer or long-term mental health issues, we know little about the experience of elderly patients in general wards who might be feeling isolated or bored, while recuperating or waiting for discharge arrangements to be made.
We know that a patients’ hospital experience is enhanced by a holistic approach to care, which focuses on therapeutic activities and socialisation.
Research suggests a holistic approach to care can expedite recovery. Our members are not trained researchers; they are lay people who give of their time to listen to people within hospital and community settings.
Cwm Taf CHC members report having had some meaningful conversations with patients. We received valuable suggestions on ways in which the patient experience could be enriched.
Also if you are a registrant of Pencoed Surgery or the Llanharan Branch Surgery we would like to hear what your views are on the services you receive from these practices.
Tell your friends and family to drop into the practice and ask for a copy of our survey for completion. The survey will be available at both sites until January 4.
The members and staff of Cwm Taf Community Health Council would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.