Customers need food standard reassurances, insist Oldham Lib-Dems

Councillor Howard Sykes, the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council

Recent revelations from the Food Standards Agency show that 11 food premises in Oldham were given a 1 rating for hygiene, while over half of food business in England do not even display their food hygiene ratings certificates on their premises or online.

Councillor Howard Sykes, who is the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, is offering the backing of his Group to the campaign by the Food Standards Agency and the Local Government Association for the Government to change the law so that all food businesses are obliged to display their ratings.

Council environmental health officers award a score of zero to five to food outlets, based on factors such as kitchen cleanliness, cooking methods and food safety management.

The ratings are intended to inform customers when they are choosing to purchase a meal about the hygiene practices in that business, but only 49-per-cent of businesses in England display their rating.

Councillor Sykes, who is also the Leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors’ group on the Local Government Association, said: “We have all heard the horror stories about unhygienic food outlets with kitchens over run with vermin, filthy work surfaces and dirty cooking implements. 

"Sometimes inspectors are forced to immediately close food premises because their practices are so bad and in Oldham we are active in prosecuting offenders.  

"Customers need reassurances that any premises are safe for them to purchase food from.”

The Local Government Association is calling for the Government to change the law so that the display of hygiene ratings becomes mandatory on premises or on on-line apps, as it is in Wales and Northern Ireland, with offenders who fail to do so being prosecuted.

Councillor Sykes added: “Food hygiene inspections clearly help drive up standards and protect people from being served unsafe food. 

"Isn’t it common sense then to have the ratings that result from these inspections on display? 

"It is only right that customers can see these ratings as they enter a premises or order food online in order that they can make informed choices. 

"I would ask customers to question why a food business does not have its rating on display – I would never purchase food from an outlet which fails to do so.”

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