Murray River Council has resolved to participate in the 'Scores on Doors' program for its food businesses to promote compliance with hygiene and food safety standards.
Scores on Doors is the state-wide NSW program that allows food businesses to display the results of their food safety inspections with a hygiene and food safety rating.
The program is focussed on retail food service businesses that process and sell food that is ready to eat such as restaurants, pub bistros, hotels, cafés, bakeries, clubs and takeaway outlets.
Participating councils are required to conduct inspections using the Food Premises Assessment Report (FPAR) which relates to compliance with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.
It specifically relates to hygiene and food safety and focuses on the most important foodborne illness risk factors; including cooling and cold holding temperatures, food prepared ahead of planned service, hot holding temperatures, food handler personal hygiene, reheating, cleaning and sanitising of equipment and premises.
Acting Mayor Frank Crawley said council hopes the program will promote consumer trust in food businesses and further promote the excellent reputation of food businesses in the area.
"The introduction of the Scores on Doors program would highlight the many businesses within the municipality that are doing the right thing by their customers and operating in a clean and hygienic manner and keeping food safe."
"It also offers an additional incentive for businesses to maintain and increase their inspection results, thereby improving the quality of local food premises," he said.
Scores on Doors inspections allow eligible food premises to receive a hygiene and food safety rating based on points allocated on the FPAR, similar to a demerit system. The business is then provided with a certificate or sticker that shows their food safety rating.
Food businesses that do not wish to participate in the program are not required to display their rating.
Scores on Doors is not intended for supermarkets, delicatessens or greengrocers, low risk food premises or businesses that serve pre-packaged food such as service stations and convenience stores, temporary markets, mobile food vending vehicles or businesses that hold a NSW Food Authority licence and are separately audited such as butchers.
"We hope many of our eligible food businesses will embrace the program as it will further showcase the excellent standards of our local communities and culinary attractions," Cr Crawley said.
