Telford & Wrekin’s new Scores on the Doors rating system for food establishments went live this week.
Telford & Wrekin’s new Scores on the Doors rating system for food establishments went live this week.
The scheme helps residents make informed choices about where to eat and buy food based on the findings of environmental health spot checks. Hundreds of people have already logged onto the council’s website after the launch on the internet at the weekend.
The scheme involves pubs, restaurants, takeaways, private caterers, care homes and even school kitchens being visited by council environmental health inspectors.
They then award a star rating; the best get five stars while the worst a zero.
Any star rating could be withdrawn if a business’s standards are found to have dropped at a later inspection.
Of the businesses listed, 8.48 per cent have a five star rating; 18.78, four star; 32.12, three star; 13.93, two star; 13.33, one star; and 13.33, zero star.
Hunreds of people have already logged on to look at how the 165 businesses listed have rated.
Inspectors are also judging safety, cleaning and confidence in management.
All premises scoring two stars or above comply with the law and if a business improves then it will be able to let customers know through a right to reply feature on the new website.
As well as results being open to anyone to view on the website at www.telford.gov.u/scoresonthedoors, businesses will be given a star rating certificate that they can choose to display.
Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, Councillor Jacqui Seymour, said: “This is an excellent new initiative brought to you by the council and will really help people decide with confidence where they eat and buy food from.
“It will encourage food businesses to keep up their high standards or make others improve so that we have healthier and better places to eat and buy food across the borough.
“I would like all residents and visitors to the area to access the website so that when you are out and about and in need of a spot of lunch or a lavish dinner, or want to find out which supermarket in the area have a healthy and hygienic approach to food, you know their scores on the doors.”
