Employee Senthil Kumaran (left) and Govindan Tharan, Manager of the Village Choice takeaway in Cheam, give the thumbs up to being awarded a top five rating by a Food Enforcement Officer with Sutton and Kingston Shared Environment Service.
Sutton Council is advising residents to look out for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) when eating out with family or friends at restaurants in the borough this half-term.
Diners should look out for the green-and-black food hygiene rating stickers displayed on windows and doors. Checking the food hygiene rating will give residents peace of mind as it gives an insight into the hygiene and management standards of the business. A rating of ‘0’ means “Urgent improvement necessary”, ‘1’ is “Major improvement necessary” and ‘2’ is “Improvement necessary”.
In Sutton, 864 restaurants, takeaways, cafés, sandwich shops, pubs, hotels, schools, hospitals, residential care homes, supermarkets, bakeries and delicatessens have been rated following a food hygiene inspection by Food Enforcement Officers with Sutton and Kingston Shared Environment Service.
Of these borough businesses, 391 have achieved the maximum rating of ‘5’, while another 206 have been given a ‘4’ rating by food enforcement officers. Just over 88 per cent of borough establishments are rated ‘3’ (‘Good’) or higher.
The Village Choice takeaway in Cheam is the latest food establishment in Sutton to receive a top rating of ‘5’ from the Kingston and Sutton Shared Environment Service team.
The chicken and pizza takeaway on High Street, Cheam, which opened last October, is the 391st food business in the borough to receive a ‘5’ (Very Good) – the highest rating of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) – following a rigorous food hygiene inspection by a Sutton Council Food Enforcement Officer on 5 February.
Govindan Tharan, Manager of Village Choice, said:
“We are really pleased that our takeaway business has been awarded a ‘5’ rating by Sutton Council. Receiving the highest rating has been a tremendous boost to our confidence as we worked very hard to achieve it.
“We are proud to prominently display our FHRS food hygiene rating sticker on our front door as this lets everyone know they can eat here with confidence.”
Cllr Nick Emmerson, Vice-Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business at Sutton Council, said:
“The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a great tool for residents when choosing where to eat out, particularly when celebrating a special meal, because it tells you what’s going behind the scenes in the kitchen. A good rating should mean a good night out for everyone.”
Food Enforcement Officers aim to protect public health and work with establishments that receive lower ratings to help them improve hygiene standards. A food business operator can also request a re-rating visit after three months.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers several criteria when assigning a rating, with hygienic handling of food, cleanliness of facilities, and business management all taken into account before an establishment receives a grade.
In 2013, more than 500,000 people suffered from food poisoning in the UK. Poultry was the biggest cause of illness, accounting for nearly half of the cases.
If you do not see a FHRS sticker, ask staff at the venue or check online here, where there is ratings information online for more than 440,000 food businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with over 93 per cent rated three, four or five.
A free app is also available on iPhone and android by clicking here.