Public Servant Lifestyle

Diners in the London Boroughs will be able to check on the cleanliness - or otherwise - of their favourite restaurants when a new online ratings system launches next year.

The new service - which is expected to become available from April (2007) in the London Borough of Wandsworth - will see restaurants and food premises that demonstrate the highest standards of hygiene receive five 'stars'. Where conditions are found to be unacceptable, no stars will be awarded unser the scheme.

There are more than 2000 restaurants, shops and other food businesses in the borough of Wandsworth alone. Of these around 15% are expected to achieve four or five stars under the new system. Those premises attracting a zero star rating would normally face enforcement action under food hygiene laws.

Executive member for environment and leisure Malcolm Grimston said: “Consumers will be able to check a restaurant’s hygiene score in the same way as they would the menu. The ready availability of this information will attract public interest and raise expectations. We expect it to prove a real aid to driving up food hygiene standards.

“The council has run an independent awards scheme for many years encouraging local businesses to take food hygiene seriously. We are delighted to be part of this London-wide initiative which will provide easy-to-understand information on every food establishment in the capital.”

All thirty-three London Boroughs are piloting the initiative with the support of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Councils will work with the FSA during the two-year pilot to ensure ratings criteria are applied consistently throughout the participating boroughs. In addition to publication on council websites the FSA is expected to set up a central database.

Restaurateurs will be encouraged to display their own rankings on their premises where customers can see them. The information upon which the rankings are based will be complied from the annual inspections already carried out by local environmental health officers.

More information available in Dining Out, United Kingdom