Sedgemoor District Council’s food safety team is encouraging diners to ‘look before they book’ special meals on St Valentine’s Day in the Burnham-On-Sea area this year.
An easy way to quickly assess a restaurant is to check its food hygiene rating which tells diners about hygiene standards in restaurants and other food businesses.
“If you’re planning that special meal, make sure you don’t end up with more than you bargained for with an upset stomach,” says the council’s spokeswoman Claire Faun.
“Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular times for going out for a meal – a time to enjoy good company and good food without worrying about food poisoning.”
“But the truth is, you can’t tell a restaurant’s hygiene standards by how clean and tidy the staff look or by how busy it is.”
“It’s really easy to check. Just go online and check the Food Standards Agency website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings or if you’re out and about check for the green and black sticker. If you can’t see one, just ask.”
The ratings are determined by local authority food safety officers and run from 0-5, with a 5 rating meaning a very good level of food hygiene.
“Around 93% of food businesses are rated 3 or better so there are plenty of places with good standards and you can easily avoid taking your family to those not meeting the grade.”
“If you don’t see a green and black sticker in the window or you spot a low rating online, you can make a better informed choice.”
