Environmental Services Food Safety Team spent 12 months developing Surf4fooD.

Premises have been given a star rating based on national criteria for specific food hygiene issues. A maximum of three3 stars has been awarded to premises with a high standard of compliance, with no stars given where major improvements are required.

In addition, copies of all letters/reports relating to inspections undertaken by Enforcement Officers from 1 September 2007 have also been published. The letters/reports are the same as those sent to food businesses other than sensitive details have been removed for statutory Disclosure of Information purposes.

It is believed that the combination of the star rating system along with the publication of unedited inspection reports is currently unique within the United Kingdom.

Benefits from this unique project include:

• improving customer service;
• improving efficiency by dealing with Freedom of Information enquiries via the website, and
• improving food safety standards generally by publishing food hygiene standards which acts as a major incentive to food businesses to ensure that they are fully complying with their legal responsibilities.

Enquiries were made with several other local authorities throughout the U.K. and as well as other agencies including the Scottish Childminding Association and the Food Standards Agency in order to take on board best practice.

In due course it is planned to review and, wherever possible, further develop and improve the service and as part of this process feedback is to be sought from all food businesses listed on the site.

Surf4fooD can be accessed on http://www.northlan.gov.uk

Further information

Gordon Cunningham

Food Safety Manager

North Lanarkshire Council

Fleming House

Cumbernauld G67 1JW

Tel. 01236 616422

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