Scores on the Doors
Many Local Authorities throughout the country are running Scores on the Doors schemes. This is an initiative which gives members of the public the opportunity to view the latest hygiene rating following a food safety inspection. The information published will allow customers to make an informed choice on where to eat. The Environmental Health Service will be launching the scheme in North Herts during Food Safety Week in June 2009.
The experience of other Councils already operating the scheme is that it motivates food businesses to raise hygiene standards, and it gives the public information (that they are legally entitled to) from an independent and credible source about local food outlets.
At present it is not a national scheme although there are over 200 councils operating schemes in the UK at present, including several of our neighbours. The Food Standards Agency is very keen on the idea and is proposing to introduce a national scheme, although this is unlikely to happen for another 2 or 3 years.
There are about 900 food premises in North Hertfordshire and of these many pose only a low risk to food safety (grocers selling wrapped foods only, chemists, confectioners etc), so not all categories of food premises will be included in the initial phase. The scheme will concentrate on those premises serving ready to eat, high risk foods i.e. restaurants, take-aways, cafes, pubs serving open food, schools and care homes.
All food businesses are currently in the Council’s food inspection programme and as such are given a score against a number of criteria set out in the Code of Practice made under the Food Safety Act 1990. The scores for confidence in management, hygiene standards and structural conditions will be used to establish an aggregate score that will be translated into a star rating for the business. The Officers have been trained in the use the scoring system and have been using it for many years. The star rating will be issued on a certificate for display on the front door or window. The display of the certificate will be voluntary, however, the scores awarded will also be posted on the Council’s website.
It is anticipated that it will take 18 months to get round all of the businesses included in the scheme.
A star rating of 0 will indicate that, although the food produced is safe to eat, there are significant food safety issues that the business needs to address. A star rating of 5 will confirm that excellent standards of food hygiene were demonstrated at the time of inspection.
Changes in the star rating will only be made at the time of a routine programmed inspection or if the business changes ownership.
A business that feels that it has not been treated fairly will be advised to follow the Council’s 3C’s complaints procedure and the matter will be investigated. If a business feels that conditions have improved since the inspection it will have the right to post comments on the Council’s website provided, that in the Officer’s opinion, they are accurate.
A business not displaying a star rating may be awaiting an inspection, or may not have received its certificate. Alternatively the business may have its own reasons for not displaying a certificate (remember, they are not obliged to put it on display).
Members of the public will be able to view the star ratings through the Council’s website and by text on their mobile phones.
Scores on the Doors Policy (40.8KB) 
Further information is also provided on the frequently asked questions page.
