Food hygiene report scheme launch

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The results of hygiene inspection reports are to be posted in restaurants and cafes for customers to view under a new pilot scheme.

About 3,000 food businesses in parts of Scotland will be asked to display certificates prominently on the door or window of their premises.

It will show how well they did in their last hygiene inspection.

Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Lewis Macdonald, launched the project in Aberdeen.

'Peace of mind'

The Food Hygiene Information Scheme is being run in Perth and parts of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fife and Renfrewshire.

It applies to all premises selling food to the public.

The two-year pilot was developed and implemented by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Scotland.

Mr Macdonald launched the scheme at The Place to Eat restaurant in John Lewis.

He said: "It's important that consumers can eat out safe in the knowledge that a restaurant or café meets hygiene standards. This scheme will give the public that peace of mind."

We know people are concerned about food hygiene George PatersonFSA Scotland director

The certificates, based on current inspection records say "Pass" or "Improvement Required".

An "Awaiting Inspection" certificate is available for new businesses.

If it is a success, the scheme could be rolled out across the whole of Scotland."

FSA Scotland Director George Paterson said: "We know people are concerned about food hygiene.

"This scheme aims to help consumers make informed choices about buying food or eating out in the pilot areas using easy-to-understand and easily accessible information."

'Informed choices'

Andrea Carson, senior environmental health officer at Aberdeen City Council, said: "We are hoping that this will, in the long term, reduce the intervention needed by enforcement officials while still ensuring that standards are maintained."

Two pilots will also run in England.

The scheme was welcomed by consumer groups.

Mary Lawton, policy manager at the Scottish Consumer Council, said: "It will be a major step towards better consumer choice and greater transparency of the enforcement process."

Which? spokeswoman Julia Clarke, said: "People will be able to make informed choices and will therefore be able to eat out in confidence without risking their health."