You've heard of Egon Ronay and Michelin stars – now it's North Lanarkshire Council's turn. That's because we have just launched our own food rating system, available now on this website.

 

Surf4fooD doesn't rate food by the standards of cooking. Instead it rates every establishment in North Lanarkshire that prepares and serves food in terms of its food safety standards.

 

That means everything from local corner shops and multi-national food manufacturers to supermarkets, restaurants, kitchens and cafes. Some businesses are visited more often than others if they have a bigger possible risk - hospital kitchens, for example.

 

As a result of our inspections we give each business a food hygiene star rating, and a letter or report that gives details of our findings. Surf4fooD now makes that rating and those reports available online.

 

It's another way to ensure the authority's excellent food safety record  - which has already seen the council receive Scotland's best Food Standards Agency audit so far this year - continues to improve; and it allows residents to protect themselves against poor hygiene practices.

 

You can access the site using the Surf4FooD button on the home page of this website.  Then you simply search by type of business, business name, business address or area postcode for an instant food safety review. The easy-to-understand star rating gives an immediate guide to safety standards, and complete food safety inspection reports are attached that provide more detailed information.

 

"Most of North Lanarkshire's food premises have good food safety standards," said Food Safety Manager Gordon Cunningham. "But this website will inspire everyone to raise them even higher.

 

"Diners and purchasers benefit, because they can see at a glance how well their chosen establishment complies with food safety rules. But businesses benefit too, because a good report makes people more likely to choose them over the competition.

 

"We are expecting this to become a very well-used and valued tool for all users, and we're very pleased to be providing it and enhancing an already extremely strong record for promoting food safety."

 

Councillor Helen McKenna, Convener of the Environmental Services Committee, said: "We are very pleased with this initiative, and we know it will prove useful. It's all about protecting and promoting public health, something to which this council is extremely committed. I can absolutely recommend surfing before you eat!"

 

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