Free training sessions to improve food hygiene standards

Darlington Council has invited staff from 60 catering businesses and restaurants across the Borough to free training sessions to help improve food hygiene standards at their premises.

The businesses have been awarded one or two star ratings by the council under the Tees Valley Food Hygiene Award scheme. The scheme ranks businesses in the food industry according to a series of hygiene standards and looks at a range of issues including premises and staff training as well as the handling of food. Awards range from no stars (major improvements needed) to five stars (excellent).

The council has set up the free training sessions to help the businesses improve their food hygiene knowledge and awareness and learn about managing successful food safety systems using the Food Standards Agency's Safer Food Better Business scheme.

Staff from businesses attending the sessions will receive a free meat-probe thermometer, to check and record the temperature of meat prepared on their premises, and samples of cleaning products suitable for use in the food industry.

Andy Scott, the council's cabinet member for health and leisure, said: "The free training sessions have been set up specifically to help businesses with one or two star ratings learn more about food safety and in turn improve standards at their premises."

Residents can check the food hygiene standards rating of any Darlington food related business, including restaurants and take-aways, on the Scores on the Doors website which can be accessed via the Council's website www.darlington.gov.uk

Any one or two star rated business wishing to attend a session should call (01325) 388563.

The scope of the Scores on the Doors scheme covers everything from restaurants, cafés, takeaways and hospital canteens.

Words: Maria Bracken

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