Food safety 'scores on the doors' for schools

Elevn West Berkshire school have adequate or lower hygiene ratings

A FOOD safety rating system has shown 11 schools in West Berkshire have a hygiene rating of adequate or lower.

The West Berkshire Council shadow executive spokesman for children and young people, Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) requested the data at a meeting of the council's executive on Thursday, and was informed of the 83 state schools on the food premises database Scores on the Doors, four were classed as excellent, 28 were very good, 27 were satisfactory, nine were adequate and two were bad.

Mr Macro said more must be done to improve food safety in schools and food premises and called on the council to name and shame food premises with bad hygiene standards.

However the executive member for public protection Hilary Cole (Con, Chievely) hit back and accused Mr Macro of distorting facts to cause unnecessary alarm.

“An ‘adequate' rating is legally compliant and therefore does not form part of the priority inspection programme,” she said, adding that items for improvement are highlighted for the next routine inspection as prescribed by the Food Standards Agency unless directed otherwise by the inspecting officer.

“Those considered below 'adequate' are dealt with by officers following a graduated approach as prescribed by the Food Standards Agency. This may involve improvement action plans, targeted improvement notices where improvement is not happening voluntarily and formal action where these notices are breached.”