Food Hygiene Information Scheme
The Environmental Health Section, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency, is launching the Food Hygiene Information Scheme in October. The scheme is designed to provide ‘at a glance’ information about the outcome of food hygiene inspections.
Food businesses that have been inspected and have met the required legal standards have been issued with a ‘Pass’ certificate.
The display of a certificate by a business is voluntary but you will be able to access full information about all food businesses in the area on the Food Standards Agency website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings
Inspections
Officers from the Environmental Health Section's Commercial & Licensing Team carry out routine inspections to assist food businesses in complying with two areas of food legislation:
Food Hygiene
The Food Safety Act 1990 requires that West Dunbartonshire Council, acting as the Food Authority, regularly inspects all food businesses in the area to ensure compliance with the legislation in terms of operational procedures, cleanliness and structure.
Food Standards
The Food Safety Act 1990 also requires that West Dunbartonshire Council regularly inspects all food businesses in the area to ensure compliance with the legislation in terms of labelling, composition and quality of food.
In West Dunbartonshire, food hygiene and food standards are covered during the same inspection.
Inspections are carried out according to a priority rating system at frequencies of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months according to the perceived risk.
A written report is issued to the proprietor of the food business after each inspection.
An inspection report represents a "snapshot" of the conditions on the day and time of the inspection. A food business could have fewer or more contraventions of legislation than noted in the report on any given day. Therefore an inspection report may not be representative of the overall, long-term standards.
The rating given under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme may have been achieved following one or more revisits to the business after the initial inspection. Therefore, while the published inspection report may show several hygiene issues, the business may still be awarded a 'Pass' certificate if all matters have been promptly addressed.
