Council cuts one in three EHOs- May 12th, 2012

Crawley BC have confirmed it is cutting its environmental health team by a third, but has denied allegations by a whistleblower that public health would be put at risk.

Six of the 17-strong team will go by 1 August, including five full-time and one part-time post. The council said the decision had been taken earlier in the year.

But contrary to an assertion made by environment and housing director Peter Browning in the local press, the majority of job loses are frontline staff.

A spokesperson told EHN only one manager level position was being deleted, compared to two-and-a-half senior EHO posts, one senior health and safety inspector and one technical support officer.

Reports in the local press citing an ‘anonymous whistleblower’ that the risk to the public would be increased as a result were denied by Mr Browning. He claimed: ‘The public will not notice any difference in frontline services.’

The council said it had undertaken ‘extensive staff consultations’ when planning the job cuts and changes to the department.

The spokesperson added: ‘The changes required by central government on our approach to health and safety plus other legislative changes around public drainage, etc, means that it was an appropriate time to review the service.

‘That review allowed us to refocus on the key public health and environmental services needed by Crawley. This will free up time to concentrate on core aspects of the work and build resilience and flexibility.’

CIEH head of policy David Kidney said: ‘Public protection should surely be a top priority and the CIEH is concerned to learn of these substantial cuts in environmental and public health posts and the concern for public safety they are engendering.

‘I do not believe that the government is expecting councils to reduce such vital frontline services as occupational safety, public health and workplace wellbeing. I would expect to see much stronger justification – in terms of improved public protection and enhanced frontline services – than Crawley BC has yet presented.’

more

Food Standards Agency show zero tolerance at Blackburn and Darwen food outlets- May 10th, 2012

FOOD hygiene standards at 14 takeaways, shops and cafes in Blackburn and Darwen need ‘urgent improvements,’ according to the Food Standards Agency.

Food safety officers visited around 1,000 food selling outlets including work canteens, pubs and butty shops giving them a rating of zero to five.

The Courtyard Cafe at Blackburn College, The Live Lounge and three newsagents were among the worst.

Inspections of the zero-rated premises were carried out between March 2010 and January this year and will have been required urgently to carry out necessary improvements.
Full story

There’s food hygiene safety in numbers- May 8th, 2012

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme tells consumers about the hygiene standards in the
places where they eat out or shop for food. The scheme, an FSA/local authority partnership
initiative, is relatively new, but its roll-out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has
gathered momentum over the past few months

Following launches in Cumbria, in the North West, Wycombe, in the South East, and many other places in between, 275 local authorities now have the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in place. This represents about 75% of local authories in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Many more are preparing to launch and, by the time of the London 2012 Games, the Agency expects the figure to rise to about 94%. Others are due to follow a little later and, by the end of the year, we expect Northern Ireland to join Wales in having national coverage.
This is all great news for consumers! They can already check online to find out about the hygiene standards for almost 250,000 food outlets, and the numbers are set to increase week by week.
The scheme gives consumers greater choice and the power to vote with their feet. But it’s also good news for food businesses.
Good performers will be easier to spot.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Look out for the distinctive green and black stickers or check them out at
www. food.gov.uk/

FSA E-NEWS APRIL 2012- May 5th, 2012

The Food Standards Agency April newsletter is now available.

To view

More than 400 food outlets rated ‘sub-standard’ across North Wales- May 4th, 2012

THE food hygiene rating scheme was launched last year by the Food Standards Agency. It rates the hygiene standards at every establishment which serves food on a scale from zero to five.

Any outlet rated one or zero is “sub-standard” and in need of major or urgent improvement.

As of Friday, April 27, there were around 300 places, from schools through to takeaways, which score a rating of one or zero -with17 sites registering a zero rating.

The scheme is run by local authorities in partnership with the FSA. Local food safety officers carry out an inspection, and award an FSA food hygiene rating. As well as cleanliness the rating also looks at the condition of buildings – layout, lighting and ventilation – and how a business manages and records what it does to make sure food’s safe.

Inspections are mandatory but businesses are under no legal obligation to display the ratings in store which is why the Welsh Government wants to change the law. However the ratings of all businesses who have been inspected are available on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings.

Full article