Don't let food poisoning ruin your Christmas!

IF there is one thing guaranteed to ruin your Christmas meal out with friends, family or colleagues, it’s a nasty bout of food poisoning.  

But if you’re eating out, how do you know if the restaurant owner takes food hygiene seriously?

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates eateries and other places that sell food on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by South Somerset District Council based at Brympton Way in Yeovil (pictured right).  What’s more, these ratings are available for everyone to see.

This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities, rates food outlets on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of five (‘very good’). You can check the rating online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings, via a free phone app, or look for the distinctive green and black rating sticker that businesses are encouraged to display.

If you’re organising a Christmas gathering with family, friends or work colleagues at a local restaurant, pub or hotel don’t just examine the menu, also check what their hygiene rating is too.

South Somerset District Council's spokesman for regulatory and democratic services, Cllr Peter Seib, said: ''The ‘Scores on the Doors’ rating has been very popular with customers. It's so simple and because food hygiene has now become part of choosing where to eat, business owners are competing on quality: a win-win outcome."
 
Catriona Stewart, head of the food hygiene ratings team at the FSA, added: “No-one wants to gamble with their health when eating out, particularly when celebrating a special festive meal.

''Local authorities, including South Somerset District Council have worked with the FSA to successfully roll-out the scheme which helps people choose where to eat. Our app makes it even easier for people to check hygiene ratings before deciding which place to visit.”

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