Cookstown District Council
Environmental Health
Eat Safe Awards - FAQ
What is the Eat Safe Award and how will it benefit my business?
The Eat Safe Award will provide you with a valuable tool to reassure customers of your commitment to them. Eat Safe is designed to promote excellence in food hygiene and food safety management in catering establishments across Northern Ireland.
Who's behind the scheme?
The scheme is administered by local Council Environmental Health Departments in conjunction with The Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI), catering trade associations and the General Consumer Council for NI. Eligible establishments will be assessed for the award as part of the scheduled Food Hygiene inspections carried out by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs). The FSA will promote the Eat Safe Award to the general public, helping to raise awareness of the scheme, its symbols and its criteria.
Does my business come within the scope of the scheme?
All catering operations in Northern Ireland are included in the scheme. For example;
- Schools/Colleges
- Hotels/Restaurants
- Coffee Shops/Cafes
- Takeaways
- Workplaces
- Hospitals/NHS sites
What will the EHO be looking for?
EHOs, as part of programmed hygiene inspections carry out a grading process that considers both:
- the food safety risks your business might pose to consumers.
- the effectiveness of the management that controls those risks.
Part of that grading process will be used to assess whether you meet the standards of the Eat Safe Award.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- Do you ensure high standards of Food Hygiene and Safety?
- Can you demonstrate good structural standards including cleanliness of the premises and equipment?
- Are the sum of your controls and the quality of your management sufficient to inspire Confidence in Management?
- Do you ensure that all staff are trained to a level consistent with their duties?
- Taken as a whole, does the assessment of risks to food safety and the provision of measures to control those risks in your business meet with the standards for compliance with HACCP?
It is anticipated that initially no more that 5% of businesses will reach the Award standards, but that this number will increase over time.
What happens if I am given the Award?
If your establishment meets the standards required, you will be advised by your EHO. You will be presented with a certificate and Eat Safe window stickers to display in your restaurant so that customers will know that you have received the Award.
Can the award be taken away from me?
Yes. To maintain consumer confidence and the integrity of the scheme, the Award may be withdrawn if changes in the business mean that the Award criteria are no longer met. If your standards fall, the Award will be removed from your business. This will ensure that the public can continue to trust the Eat Safe Award as a sign of consistent excellence.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing. If your restaurant meets the set criteria at the time of your next inspection, then you'll be informed by your EHO.
How long does the Award last?
The Award will be presented when the business is assessed to have achieved the standards required, and will remain in place for as long as it meets those criteria. However, if you sell your business, or move premises the Award cannot be transferred to the next owner or another address.
Who's going to publicise the Award?
The Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland will promote the scheme will maintain a record of all awards on their web site for the public information and will generally inform local papers when an award is to be presented.
Further information can be found at www.eatsafe.gov.uk