Protecting your plate in Rossendale

Rossendale Council is celebrating the people who make sure that the borough’s restaurants, takeaways, burger vans and more are up to scratch.

We are supporting National Food Safety Week (June 4 to 10) which this year is thanking the council environmental health officers who inspect local food businesses to ensure hygiene standards are met.

The national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme covers businesses supplying or serving food direct to consumers such as restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, food vans or stalls, canteens, hotels, supermarkets, schools, hospitals and care homes.

There are six hygiene ratings ranging from 0 (urgent improvement required) to 5 (very good) to help people choose where to eat.

Businesses are given green and black stickers with their rating to display at their premises. Ratings are also published online.

Of the 501 outlets in Rossendale covered by the scheme, 99 per cent have a food hygiene rating of 3 (generally satisfactory) or above and 83 per cent have a 5 rating.

Councillor Jackie Oates, Rossendale Council’s Portfolio Holder for Operations, said:

There are lots of great places to eat out in Rossendale and we have a dedicated team that works hard to ensure that residents and visitors can do so with peace of mind.

I am pleased that the vast majority of our food outlets have a rating of 3 or above – it is just another reason to visit and enjoy the borough – but we would welcome a change to current legislation making the display of the ratings in restaurants and takeaways a legal requirement.

Angela Towers, head of the Food Hygiene Rating team at the Food Standards Agency, added:

Working in partnership with Rossendale Council and its expert environmental health officers, we are dedicated to ensuring that people can trust that the food they buy and eat is safe and honest.

Our Food Hygiene Rating Scheme empowers the public to make informed decisions about where to buy and eat food. It’s also proved hugely effective in driving up standards in food businesses across the country.