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500th Award in Scotland
Monday 16 March 2009
An outdoor, multi-activity education centre near Helensburgh has become the 500th establishment in Scotland to receive a prestigious food hygiene award.
Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre – which is run by Glasgow City Council – offers a range of action packed courses and residential accommodation for organised groups, as well as for the general public at various periods throughout the year. It has now received the Eat Safe Award for excellence in food hygiene and food safety management.
The busy kitchen at the centre provides meals for approximately 60 staff and guests daily, including breakfasts, cooked evening meals and packed lunches for visitors heading out for a day of adventurous activities, which can involve trail cycling, sailing, kayaking and climbing.
The Eat Safe scheme was launched by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland in June 2003 and was rolled out across Scotland in January 2005. It aims to improve public confidence and consumer choice in catering establishments across the country.
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.
To date, 20 Local Authorities across the country have presented the awards to establishments within their areas, while others are working towards their first presentations to local businesses.
Anne Kirkland, Catering and Domestic Services Manager at Blairvadach, is delighted the Centre has been recognised for the high standards of food hygiene and safety it prides itself on.
Anne said: “We are thrilled to become the 500th recipient of this prestigious award. The achievement reflects the dedication of the catering team here at Blairvadach, which works exceptionally hard to ensure we meet the very highest standards of food safety and hygiene management.
“We work with a wide range of groups as well as the general public and it’s essential that they know the catering service here is of the highest order and this important award is further confirmation of the exceptional food safety levels we meet.”
Peter Midgley, Head of the Food Law Enforcement Branch, Food Standards Agency Scotland, commented: “I am delighted to see Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre receive this thoroughly well deserved, landmark award.
“Awareness of the Eat Safe scheme has grown and spread across the whole of Scotland since it was launched four years ago and to have now reached 500 awards is just tremendous. With more and more catering establishments making food safety and hygiene their top priority, we look forward to reaching further landmark awards in the future.”
Councillor Daniel Kelly, Chairperson of the Protective Services and Licensing Committee of Argyll and Bute Council, added: “I would like to congratulate Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre on receiving this award. I’m pleased that Argyll and Bute Council is involved in the 500th award, showing the continued commitment of our businesses throughout the area in setting high standards of food safety.”
Further information on the Food Standards Agency Scotland and the Eat Safe scheme in particular can be found at www.food.gov.uk
ENDS
Issued on behalf of the Food Standards Agency Scotland by Mackenzie PR. For further information please call the FSAS on 01224 285 120, or Paul Beaton at Mackenzie PR on 01224 580 188, or email paul@mackenziepr.co.uk
