Basildon Council is reminding residents to check food hygiene ratings before visiting restaurants and takeaways this festive season.
Officers from the Environmental Health Team carry out inspections throughout the year to ensure that food establishments across the borough meet standards. They hand out ratings ranging from 0 to 5, with 65% of businesses currently deemed to be 5 – very good.
Ratings – which are available to view at www.basildon.gov.uk/ratings – take into account a range of criteria including hygiene practices, structural standards and confidence in management. The scheme applies to restaurants, takeaways, pubs, hotels, supermarkets and other retailers.
To ensure your Christmas is free from food poisoning, the winter edition of Together magazine contains top tips from the Food Standards Agency on how to safely prepare your turkey. It is being delivered to homes now or is available to read at www.basildon.gov.uk/together
