IT IS SADLY a fact that recommendations from friends and great reviews on TripAdvisor don’t necessarily equal great hygiene standards.
Pembrokeshire County Council are urging romantics this Valentine’s Day to think ahead by checking the Food Hygiene Ratings of their intended date locations beforehand to avoid what could be a night to remember for all of the wrong reasons.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme scores food businesses on their cleanliness based on inspections carried out by local authorities, ranging from 0, which means ‘urgent improvement necessary, to a top rating of 5 which means ‘very good’.
The Food Standards Agency has revealed that 94.6% of food businesses in Wales have a 3-5 stars hygiene rating, but a shocking 77 establishments in Pembrokeshire and 42 in Carmarthenshire have a rating of 2 stars or less, meaning major improvement is necessary.
Nina Purcell, Director of the Food Standards Agency in Wales, said: “You can’t tell a restaurant’s hygiene standards by how clean and tidy their staff look or by how romantic the ambience is. But the Food Hygiene Rating tells you what’s going on behind the scenes, so you should factor that in when deciding where to eat for Valentine’s Day.”
A green and black food hygiene sticker should be displayed on windows and doors of the restaurant, but if not then ask a member of staff or look at the ratings displayed online instead.
County Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, said: “Valentine’s Day is a busy time for our local restaurants, cafes and pubs. The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme makes it easier for everyone to choose to eat their romantic meals in places where food hygiene is taken seriously. A good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of.”
Food Hygiene Ratings are worth bearing in mind whether you’re treating a loved one by reserving a table somewhere special or having a cosy night in and ordering a takeaway.
Food Hygiene Ratings can be found at: www.food.gov.uk/ratings
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