With Christmas just weeks away, businesses across the country are now in party planning mode. And whilst getting many of the details right, organisers could be risking the health of their colleagues with one potentially stomach-turning omission – checking the food hygiene rating of their chosen party venue.
It’s expected around 32 million[1] employees will be heading out for a Christmas work party this festive season. And with more than 1 million[2] food poisoning cases in the UK each year, food hygiene should always be a fundamental consideration in event planning. Yet when looking for a venue, many people consider consumer reviews, but overlook the importance of checking its hygiene rating. You can find this by simply clicking on www.food.gov.uk/ratings – a website that tells you the food hygiene rating of every bar, restaurant, hotel and takeaway across the country, and could help prevent a whole host of workforce wipe-outs this winter.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme can help you choose where to eat out by giving you a clear indication of a business’ hygiene standards. Run in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the scheme gives food businesses a rating from 5 (meaning hygiene standards are very good) to 0 (meaning urgent improvement is required). These ratings take into account the hygienic handling and storage of food, how food is prepared, the cleanliness of the facilities and how food safety is managed.
“There is so much pressure on office party planners to deliver the very best Christmas party each year and when food becomes a factor, the level of responsibility is further increased – not just for taste and quality – but hygiene too. The food hygiene ratings website allows you to check the rating of your shortlisted venues in seconds, meaning you can book your Christmas party with confidence – giving you one less thing to worry about,” said said Jayne Griffiths, FSA Wales.
Remember to add the Food Hygiene Ratings to your checklist when booking your Christmas Party, visit food.gov.uk/ratings.
