Food Safety

We take it for granted when we eat out, buy food in the shops or restaurants that the food we enjoy will not do us any harm. Have you ever given a thought as to why we can be so confident?

The task of ensuring that restaurants, cafes and take-a-ways serve only food prepared under the best possible hygienic conditions falls to Crawley Borough Council's Food Team.

The team is Responsible for enforcement of The Food Safety Act 1990.

The team is divided in two and are based at the Town Hall and Timberham House which is at the Cargo Centre at Gatwick Airport. Between them they regularly inspect approximately 750 food premises in the borough.

Food Safety Service

What does the Food Team do?

• Carries out programmed food hygiene inspections.
• Advises food premises on how to comply with the law.
• Investigates complaints of food which is a danger to health.
• Responds to premises hygiene complaints from the consumer.
• Investigates allegations of food poisoning.
• Carries out bacteriological sampling of food.
• Seizes and condemns unfit food offered for sale.
• Closes food premises that pose an imminent risk to health.
• Provides free information, advice and literature.

Scores on the Doors Scheme

Have you ever wondered about the hygiene of your favourite restaurant's kitchen?

Crawley Borough Council have now launched a scheme using a star rating to outline the standard of food hygiene found in local food premises.

This scheme encourages and recognises the many food businesses that achieve full legal compliance.  It also allows the public to find out about food hygiene standards within businesses and make informed decisions about where they eat in Crawley.

For more information, or to find out how your favourite restaurants in Crawley are rated, please click on the link below.

• Scores on the doors

Further information about similar schemes is available on the Food Standards Agency website.

Links

www.cieh.org - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
www.defra.gov.uk - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
www.foodstandards.gov.uk - Food Standards Agency
www.lacors.gov.uk - Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services

www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk – Food hygiene ratings for restaurants in Crawley.

www.food.gov.uk - Food safety advice for childminders