Council kept 'regular contact' with food businesses during pandemic

From next week, food businesses in Preston will begin to be inspected again after the scheme was put on hold because of the pandemic.

Food businesses such as restaurants, cafes, butchers and sandwich bars are among those who are reviewed routinely and scored out of five.

And according to Cllr Peter Moss, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for planning and resources, 97 per cent of premises in Preston have been rated three or above in their food hygiene inspections and three quarters given top marks.

He said: “Food businesses in Preston have a very high level of compliance, with 97 per cent having an acceptable food hygiene rating of 3 or more and 75 per cent achieving the highest rating of 5. This is the result of close work between the council and businesses to help achieve our shared goal of Preston businesses being safe and successful.

"In 2018/2019 Preston completed its food hygiene inspection programme, and was one of only 15 per cent of council’s to do so, and in 2019/20 we were on track to complete the annual inspection programme until March, when Covid-19 necessitated a shift of the council’s environmental health resources to Covid-19 work.

"Some of that work involved working with local food businesses to help them safely change their food offer and, in some case, to move to offering take-away and home delivery services."

At the start of the pandemic, the country-wide lockdown meant eateries and bars with seating options were closed to halt the spread of the virus.

The council have since been offering guidance to hospitality premises in the city on the best way to manage Covid-19 and implement appropriate controls.

Peter said: "In addition to this very strong food hygiene position in Preston going into the pandemic, our environmental health team have been in regular contact with food businesses throughout - advising, supporting and regulating on all the Covid-19 controls as well as on changes to food hygiene practice.

"We are therefore confident that we have a good understanding of the food hygiene risks that currently exist."

He added that there are only 50 food businesses in Preston with a rating of below three - meaning they are considered to need improvement urgently.

That score is based on compliance with food hygiene laws, reviewing the handling of food, management and documentation of food and the structure and condition of the premesis.

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