94% of Rushcliffe food businesses rated very good or good for hygiene
Last updated: 11/9/2024
Nearly 550 food hygiene inspections carried out by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) in the past year have shown that 94% of current rated premises have a good or very good rating.
In 2023/2024, RBC completed 448 inspections across the Borough which included 174 new business registrations. The authority found 98% were compliant premises and 94% of current rated premises have a four or five-star rating.
The current Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) profile in Rushcliffe is as follows:
- 657 businesses achieving five stars– hygiene standards are very good
- 91 businesses at four stars – hygiene standards are good
- 27 businesses at three stars – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory
- 12 businesses at two stars – some improvement is necessary
- 3 businesses at one star – major improvement is necessary
- No businesses at zero star – urgent improvement is required
The rating shows how well the business is doing overall, based on standards found at the time of inspection.
The ratings can be found on the Food Standards Agency website and stickers are displayed at business premises. The back of the sticker and the online rating will also show inspection date by the local authority’s food safety officer.
Ratings are typically given to places where food is supplied, sold or consumed, such as:
- restaurants, pubs and cafes
- takeaways, food vans and stalls
- canteens and hotels
- supermarkets and other food shops
- schools, hospitals and care home
A new rating is given each time a business is inspected by a food safety officer from the business’s local authority.Each local authority plans a programme of inspections every year and the frequency of inspections depends on the potential risk to public health.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis recently met with Sam and Tracy Harker and the Harker’s Farm Shop team at their shop in Clipston-on-The-Wolds to congratulate them on achieving a 5-star hygiene rating for 13 consecutive years.
Cllr Inglis said: “We build on the number of food hygiene inspections every year which demonstrates our commitment to protecting the public by ensuring food safety across the Borough.
“Under the FHRS, we’re really pleased that 94% of Rushcliffe food businesses rated very good or good for hygiene, which reflects the hard work from our environmental health team and local business owners who work together to ensure food safety regulations are followed.
“It considers all sorts of food safety regulations including the type of food that is handled, the number and type of customers, types of processes carried out before the food is sold or served and hygiene standards seen on the day of the last inspection.
“We will continue to work with local businesses across Rushcliffe and Harker’s Farm Shop is a fantastic example of a business that takes food hygiene and public safety seriously with another five-star rating achieved.
“We would always encourage new food businesses to access advice before they intend to open. Designing and setting up a business correctly at the start, is the best way to avoid hygiene issues early on and achieve the highest rating possible. They can do this when registering on our website.”
Harker’s Farm Shop Manager Tracy Harker added: "We work tirelessly each day to maintain our high standards within the Farm shop. Our systems and procedures are rigidly set in place, so much so, that high hygiene standards become a way of life.
"We are absolutely delighted to have gained our 5 star rating from Rushcliffe Borough Council since the scheme began 13 years ago which is a true reflection of our very hard working staff.”