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| Food outlets forced to display hygiene ratings | Food outlets forced to display hygiene ratings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wales has become the first part of the UK to force food outlets to prominently display food hygiene ratings. | Wales has become the first part of the UK to force food outlets to prominently display food hygiene ratings. |
| The new law, which came into force on Thursday, builds on a voluntary scheme, known as "scores on the doors". | The new law, which came into force on Thursday, builds on a voluntary scheme, known as "scores on the doors". |
| Restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets will display ratings, which range from the worst at 0 to the best at 5. | |
| But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is still worried that food premises with poor ratings will not get their re-inspections quickly enough. | But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is still worried that food premises with poor ratings will not get their re-inspections quickly enough. |
| The grading system applies to places where people eat out and shop for food, as well as hospitals, schools, care homes and children's nurseries. | The grading system applies to places where people eat out and shop for food, as well as hospitals, schools, care homes and children's nurseries. |
| Outlets are rated according to how they prepare, cook and store food, the condition of their premises and food safety management. | Outlets are rated according to how they prepare, cook and store food, the condition of their premises and food safety management. |
| The law - which will be enforced by local councils - means businesses will have to display their ratings prominently, such as on the front door or window and at every customer entrance. | |
| This will not happen immediately as there is a transitional period which means premises inspected and rated from Thursday will be required to display the rating. | |
| Speaking at a restaurant in Cardiff Bay awarded a '5' rating under the voluntary scheme, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said customers could now make "informed decisions" about where to eat or buy food. | Speaking at a restaurant in Cardiff Bay awarded a '5' rating under the voluntary scheme, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said customers could now make "informed decisions" about where to eat or buy food. |
| "People want to know that the places where they are buying or eating their food are hygienic and safe," he said. | "People want to know that the places where they are buying or eating their food are hygienic and safe," he said. |
| "It is not easy to judge hygiene standards on appearance alone, so the rating gives people information of the hygiene practices in the kitchen. | "It is not easy to judge hygiene standards on appearance alone, so the rating gives people information of the hygiene practices in the kitchen. |
| "The new scheme is also good for business in that establishments given higher ratings could see an increase in their trade," Mr Drakeford added. | "The new scheme is also good for business in that establishments given higher ratings could see an increase in their trade," Mr Drakeford added. |
| 'Unfairly inspected' | 'Unfairly inspected' |
| But the FSB in Wales wants ministers to fully assess how the system will work. | But the FSB in Wales wants ministers to fully assess how the system will work. |
| Spokesman Rhodri Evans said: "We remain concerned that those businesses that request a re-inspection should be provided with one in the three months set down by the scheme. | Spokesman Rhodri Evans said: "We remain concerned that those businesses that request a re-inspection should be provided with one in the three months set down by the scheme. |
| "There are always going to be those businesses who feel they've been unfairly inspected and want recourse to a rating that they feel reflects the true nature of their business. | "There are always going to be those businesses who feel they've been unfairly inspected and want recourse to a rating that they feel reflects the true nature of their business. |
| "But there are also those businesses that have addressed issues raised by inspectors and have put things right, and we should be rewarding businesses for doing that. | "But there are also those businesses that have addressed issues raised by inspectors and have put things right, and we should be rewarding businesses for doing that. |
| "A failure to provide timely re-inspections is in danger of undermining the scheme and stands in the way of its ultimate aim, which must be to drive up standards for Welsh consumers." | "A failure to provide timely re-inspections is in danger of undermining the scheme and stands in the way of its ultimate aim, which must be to drive up standards for Welsh consumers." |
| The Welsh government said the Food Standards Agency (FSA) would review the scheme's operation at the end of its first year. | The Welsh government said the Food Standards Agency (FSA) would review the scheme's operation at the end of its first year. |
| The FSA estimates there are around a million cases of food-borne illness in the UK each year, resulting in 20,000 hospital admissions and contributing to around 500 deaths. | The FSA estimates there are around a million cases of food-borne illness in the UK each year, resulting in 20,000 hospital admissions and contributing to around 500 deaths. |
| Five-year-old Mason Jones, from Deri near Bargoed, Rhymney Valley, died in Wales' largest E. coli outbreak in 2005. | Five-year-old Mason Jones, from Deri near Bargoed, Rhymney Valley, died in Wales' largest E. coli outbreak in 2005. |
| A further 157 people - mostly children - became ill during the outbreak. | A further 157 people - mostly children - became ill during the outbreak. |
| A butcher was prosecuted for breaking food safety laws and was jailed for a year in 2007. | A butcher was prosecuted for breaking food safety laws and was jailed for a year in 2007. |