Hygiene ratings are determined at routine inspections by Environmental Health Officers. The hygiene standards found at these inspections are rated on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’) to a top rating of five (‘very good’)” Says Exeter Council.
It is becoming increasingly popular for people to check the rating of a cafe or restaurant before they step foot in the door, so if your business has a bad rating chances are people won’t come in. Therefore it is crucial to get a good hygiene rating… so how do you improve your food hygiene rating ?
Produce a Rota – assign tasks that are completed on a regular basis to promote good hygiene. You can create different types of rota’s such as daily, weekly, monthly, opening and closing. Including tasks such as wiping surfaces down, checking dates on food, sealing food containers and so on.
Strict Uniform Rules – Keep hair tied up with hair net or bear snood (if necessary). Jewellery needs to be removed including earrings and watches.
Food Storage – Ensure food is stored to correct temperatures, should be between 3-5 degrees, all freezers should be below -18 and all hot food should be above 63 degrees. You should test the temperatures on a very regular basis.
