How to keep on top of a clean diet in the North East
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantAnyone who owns an eatery will appreciate
the meticulous eye for detail that is necessary for an establishment to meet UK
hygiene standards. The Food Standards Agency is the body responsible for
assessing and distributing food hygiene ratings to venues across the nation.
They cover a wide range of business types, from hospitals, mobile caterers,
schools and universities, as well as farmers and growers.
Keeping this in mind, we delved into
the restaurant, café, and canteen sector in areas across the North East to gain
a better understanding of just how clean the region is eating!
Food hygiene in the
North East
The trio of cities
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Sunderland, and Durham are all hotspots for foodies. It’s
no wonder, as all kinds of tasty cuisines up for grabs throughout the bustling
city centre of each! The food scene in each city is relatively different though,
from trendy container venues in the heart of Newcastle, to beachside cafes
perfect for taking in the fresher, saltier air at Roker and Seaburn and places to eat in Seaham, Sunderland
to traditional eateries and dog friendly pubs in Durham with
a wealth of history — take a tour through the many pubs .
A variety of the region’s most
traditional dishes haven’t gone anywheere, from stottie cakes to saveloy dip
and pease pudding. In Newcastle, 62% of eateries in our ‘restaurants, cafes,
and canteens’ category boasted a five-star food hygiene rating, with 428 out of
690 venues securing the top score. Venturing south east of the River Tyne and
into Sunderland, 71% of restaurants, bars and cafes hold a five-star food
hygiene rating. In Durham, more than half of all venues in were commended in
their FSA inspection with a five-star status, adding to the glowing report of
the region’s major cities.
Amongst the other major towns in the
North East, many received the highest awarded hygiene accolade. The five-star
ratings were distributed to 88% of restaurants, cafes and canteens in
Darlington, 84% of venues in Hartlepool and 84.6% in Stockton on Tees. Further
up into the picturesque region of Northumberland where you’ll find a charming
selection of pubs and Alnwick Castle, the stunning fortress at Bamburgh
Castle and unrivalled stretches of idyllic coastline looking
out onto the expanse that is the North Sea. Venture south and you’ll find the
borough of Redcar and Cleveland, where the five-star food hygiene rating has
been awarded to 80.6% of cafes, canteens, and restaurants.
The FAQs on food
hygiene standards
It’s important to remember that food
hygiene rating does not account for the quality of food, customer service,
culinary skill, comfort or presentation. Instead, it focuses on the standards
of the actual food and the process involved prior to it being served to
customers.
The FSA food hygiene rating sticker
has become a known rating of a business. But having the sticker visible is only
mandatory in Wales and Northern Ireland, with a voluntary choice to show it in
England. Aspects such as ventilation, lighting and pest control will all
contribute to the overall rating of a venue, while training and employee
hygiene are also taken into account. Businesses which fall short of a five
star-rating are offered advice on how they can improve their rating. So, let’s
take a look at how the North East’s restaurants, cafes and canteens fared!
The rating scheme operates across
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, partnered with local authorities. The
rating is determined by a food safety officer from the local authority,
following an inspection where various aspects are assessed. Some of these
include:
·
How food safety is managed
·
Handling of food
·
Storage of food
·
Preparation of food
·
Cleanliness of facilities
Ensuring customer safety is key in
the modern hospitality sector. Many high-profile allergy contamination cases
have made mainstream news, amplifying the plight to raise awareness of the
given standards. Despite an increase in the amount of people who report
becoming ill as a result of food, food poisoning cases look to be declining steadily, dropping from 3,070 reported
cases in 2017, to 2,192 cases reported by April 2019. Food hygiene standards
will influence this figure, and as a result business need to be cautious when
it comes to meeting these requirements.
It certainly looks like ‘clean’
eating is on the rise in the North East, with hygiene standards becoming a
serious priority in kitchens across the region.
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Created on Dec 3rd 2019 03:50. Viewed 693 times.