We haven't reported on food hygiene ratings in quite sometime so it was interesting to check out the food standards agency to see how businesses and the Council in the Rochford DIstrict are performing.
Shocklingly, we found that 85 businesses out of the 693 businesses registered with the Council are still in an 'awaiting inspection' rating, one of these is a popular national coffee chain in Hockley which opened in 2016!
Why are these ratings so important?
Ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection. It is the responsibility of the business to comply with food hygiene law at all times.
This includes:
- handling of food
- how food is stored
- how food is prepared
- cleanliness of facilities
- how food safety is managed
Ratings of 3 or less
In the whole of the district, 29 businesses have a rating of 3 or lower, some of these may still be awaiting a reinspection.
So why has the Council failed to get on top of the outstanding inspections? Is it central government cuts to funding that is putting residents in harms way? We will endeavour to find out and report back.
(Data taken from the food standard agency website July 2022)