Keep your scores high

THE FOOD Standards Agency (FSA) is currently consulting on proposals to transform the many regional Scores on the Doors schemes - which make local authority hygiene reports available to customers - into a national programme.

Whichever scheme is selected, it seems certain that all pubs will be required to display a food hygiene rating for customers when the national programme comes into effect next year.

The FSA insists its "primary purpose is to empower consumers so they may make informed choices about the places in which they choose to buy food.

"Evidence from current schemes suggests that this can, in turn, provide recognition to businesses and encourage them to raise their hygiene standards," it says.

This growth in the transparency of hygiene information for pubs and restaurants makes it essential that cleaning standards are maintained to the highest level of cleanliness possible.

James Arnold, UK business leader (sales & marketing) with P&G Professional, says: "Since the introduction of the Scores on the Doors pilot scheme consumers have been able to find out the level of hygiene kept by their favourite pubs.

"As consumers now have this information at their fingertips, publicans have to be on top of their game at all times to deliver the highest-possible food preparation and cleaning standards.

"Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) based food safety management-style systems should be in place in every pub. The system is, in effect, a checklist that is there to help and should be used."

To meet the requirements of an EHO inspection, the checklist has to be in place and all staff need to be aware of what is required from them, so training - and retraining - should be top of the agenda.

"In addition to establishing best practice in cleaning, the products chosen can help make sure the effect of a cleaning system is maximised," says James.