Look before you book this Valentine’s Day
Winchester City Council is reminding those who are planning a special Valentine’s date to ‘look before you book.’
Planning the perfect Valentine’s date is stressful enough. The last thing you want on your mind before that special date is whether the place you choose is hygienic: there is nothing romantic about food poisoning.
The truth is, you cannot tell a restaurant’s hygiene standards by how clean and tidy the staff look or by how romantic the ambience is. But the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme can take one worry off your mind.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by food safety officers. Businesses are rated on a scale ranging from 0 which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’.
So, whether you are reserving a table at that romantic hotspot, the cosy little café, or planning on ordering a takeaway on your way home for a romantic meal, make sure you choose one of the 97% of businesses in the Winchester area with a rating of 3 or above.
It’s easy to check. Just go online to the Food Standard Agency’s website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings. Or, if you are out and about, check for the green and black sticker; if you can’t see one just ask the business.