Welsh Food Hygiene Award Scheme
Everyone wants to know where the best place to eat is in Torfaen. We can’t tell you where the tastiest meals can be found but we can tell you the places who have obtained a Food Hygiene Award.
Background
The Welsh Food Hygiene Award Scheme was set up to recognise good food premises who prepare high risk foods for sale, who have achieved a high standard of cleanliness and have a documented food safety management system in place which is suitable for the business needs. For example residential care homes and schools will need a much more detailed system than smaller lower risk premises. This will include members of staff being trained in Food Hygiene. The bar has been raised since a change in legislation in January 2006 which should improve standards, and those premises with a Food Hygiene Award will be working to achieve a higher Award.
The Awards
There are three types of Food Hygiene Award – Bronze, Silver and Gold .
Following unannounced food hygiene inspections|, the food premises will be considered for a food hygiene award. This decision will be based upon the Environmental Health Officer/ Enforcement Officer’s opinion having regard to past history. New businesses will not be usually be considered for an award on their first unannounced inspection.
To achieve a Bronze Food Hygiene Award, the premises must have a very good standard of cleanliness, have a basic food safety management system and all staff must have basic food hygiene training.
To achieve a Silver Food Hygiene Award, the premises must have an excellent standard of cleanliness and have a good food safety management system. In addition, one or more members of staff must have intermediate food hygiene training.
To achieve a Gold Food Hygiene Award, the food premises must have an exceptional standard of hygiene and an extensive food safety management system with one or more member of staff must have advanced food hygiene training with a full working knowledge of the principles of HACCP.
A list of those premises who have achieved the Food Hygiene Award| in the Torfaen County Borough Council area is available to download.
Conditions
The Food Hygiene Award is the property of the Council and can be taken away at any time. The reason for taking away an award will be explained to the business and they have a right to appeal. However if the standards are maintained or improved, the premises can keep the award until the next food hygiene inspection, or they may be able to achieve a higher level of Award.