Council is wanting to see every food premise operator in Ruapehu be able to display an A grade certificate when the new food premises grading system comes into effect in mid-November.

The grading system is being introduced for shops, restaurants and cafés throughout the Ruapehu District who sell food who will be given either an A, B, D or E grade which will need to be prominently displayed for customers to see.

Council believes that the grading system for food businesses will better enable people to make a more informed decision when choosing a restaurant or buying food.

Team Leader Environmental Health and Liquor Phoebe Harrison said that Council was “pulling out all stops” to work with food premise operators to help them get an A rating.

“Council sees it as critical that food businesses are able to display an A grade certificate and are putting in additional resources to help get everyone up to the required standard,” she said.

“The grading of food premises is being used being by more and more councils around NZ and is increasingly demanded by tourists who see the grading certificates on display in other parts of the country.

The display of a grade certificate gives both residents and visitors confidence in the standards of cleanliness, food handling and staff training in any given food business.

Ms Harrison said that up until the end of May Council is undertaking a preliminary round of inspecting kitchens and checking record keeping.

We use best practice evaluation methods to assess the state and maintenance of the premises, food handling and storage practices, cleanliness and staff training.

From mid-June we will start giving food premises an indicative grade and feedback based on this preliminary round.

This indicative grade is not intended to be displayed but to help food businesses not at an A grade standard to identify areas they need to work on.

Council will be giving every assistance to food businesses who receive an indicative grade of less than A to help them do whatever is necessary to meet the A grade certificate standard.

These food premises will then have an opportunity to make whatever changes are needed before their final grade certificate is issued.

Ms Harrison said that all Ruapehu food businesses except for those and needs to be displayed in mid-November.

Food business grade certificates will then be reviewed yearly,” she said.

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