Central Bedfordshire Council reminds food businesses to focus on food safety on World Food Safety Day

Date Added: 07/06/2022

Today, on World Food Safety Day, we are reminding food businesses to focus on maintaining high food safety standards and that our team are here to support them to improve and keep consumers safe.

Food safety officers inspect food businesses to check that they follow food hygiene and safety laws so the food is safe to eat. They give the business a rating from zero (urgent improvement required) to five (hygiene standards are very good).

This forms the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) which helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them clear information about the businesses’ hygiene standards.

Nationally, there are estimated to be around 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness a year, and common food poisoning bacteria include Campylobacter and Salmonella. Two million people in the UK also live with a food allergy, 600,000 people have coeliac disease, and others have food intolerances.

Food safety risks can be reduced by food businesses taking action on cleaning, pest control, food safety management and addressing food substitution issues which can cause risks for people with allergies and intolerances, and other vulnerable persons.

Food businesses in Central Bedfordshire must be registered with us. Find out how to register your food business.

The FHRS rating shows how well the business is doing overall, based on standards found at the time of inspection. The ratings can be found online and on stickers that are displayed on business premises.

More information for small businesses on food safety management procedures and food hygiene regulations is available on food.gov.uk.