Latest News
Local Establishments Achieve Food Hygiene Excellence
Tuesday 11 July 2006
The importance of food hygiene has been reinforced in the Argyll & Bute area after two local catering businesses secured prestigious awards.
The establishments are the latest recipients of the Eat Safe Award, which aims to promote excellence in standards of food hygiene and food safety management.
The Ben Lomond Restaurant, in Tarbet, was the first in the area to attain the highly sought after Award, closely followed by Ardmay House, situated in Arrochar.
These two establishments are the first recipients of the Eat Safe Award in the Argyll & Bute Council area.
The scheme was launched by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland in June 2003 and was rolled out across Scotland last year. It also aims to improve public confidence and consumer choice in catering establishments across the country.
To date, 17 local authorities have presented Eat Safe Awards to establishments within their areas, while other councils are working towards their first presentations to local businesses.
Peter Midgley, Head of the Food Standards Agency Scotland's (FSAS) Local Authority Food Law Enforcement Branch was pleased to announce the first Award recipients in the Argyll & Bute Council area.
He said: "I am delighted that the first establishments in the Argyll & Bute Council area have now received the Eat Safe Award. It's great to see so many businesses taking such a serious interest in the scheme and we congratulate these latest recipients for their efforts.
"The scheme was only launched in Scotland last year and already we have presented Awards to more than 150 establishments. Awareness of the Eat Safe scheme and what it represents is clearly continuing to grow nationwide and we are confident this will continue throughout 2006 and beyond."
Councillor Robin Banks, Environmental Health spokesperson for Argyll & Bute Council added: "I welcome the introduction of a nationally recognisable award scheme, designed to confer consumer confidence in catering premises. The award will do much to promote the quality food reputation of Argyll and Bute. I urge all caterers in Argyll and Bute to find out more about this award through their local Environmental Health service office and to apply for the award as soon as possible."
Thirty one of Scotland's 32 Local Authorities have given their backing to the scheme, which was launched following discussions between the FSAS, the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health of Scotland, the Scottish Food Advisory Committee (SFAC), Scottish Local Authorities and the FSA in Northern Ireland.
Eligible establishments are assessed for the Eat Safe Award as part of scheduled food hygiene inspections carried out by Environmental Health Services. The issue and control of certificates is through local authorities and Awards are reviewed at every planned food hygiene inspection.
