Food Premises Making The Grade

Inspections carried out by Manukau City Council in January 2003 have shown there has been a huge improvement, not only in food outlets maintaining their Food Premises "A" Grading but also in other outlets improving their "E" grades to "A".

The inspections in the Pakuranga Ward were the first in the 6 monthly city-wide re-assessment of the grading system since Council started publishing the grades, as well as making it compulsory for food premises to display their food grade certificates publicly. 92.5% of food premises in Pakuranga now hold A grade certificates.

Environmental Health Team Leader, Ian Milnes says, "I would like to congratulate all food premises owners in the Pakuranga area who have maintained or improved their grades. We are pleased to see that standards are improving, however, there is still some work to do.

" We ask the public to continue to act as watchdogs on quality, by asking to see certificates of premises where they shop or obtain food. They can also check the Food Grading Certificate list, which can be accessed from the front page of our website www.manukau.govt.nz, at their local libraries or by calling Council's 24x7 Call Centre phone 2625104. This will encourage business owners to maintain their high standards and display their rating proudly."

The Certificates are A4 sized, printed in colour, and with the rating figure displayed prominent in large print.

Owners and occupiers of food premises who receive a poor grade are reminded that they can apply for a regrade. However, a regrade will not be considered until two months following receipt of the notification of the original grade.

GRADES ACHIEVED - PAKURANGA WARD

Total Food Premises Pakuranga Ward = 122 A grade = 113 (92.5%) B grade = 3 (2.5%) E grade = 6 (5%) There were no D grades

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