Otara Food Premises Achieve High Grades

Manukau City Council congratulates all the food premises in Otara Ward who received A grade ratings during February's food hygiene inspections. The percentage of A grades issued has risen from 75% to 87% in the last six months. Overall 35 food premises have improved their grade since August 2002.

Special mention must be made of the Otara Town Centre where the number of E grades fell from 17 issued in August 2002, to only 5 in February 2003.

Environmental Health Team Leader, Ian Milnes says, "This is a wonderful effort in improving hygiene standards by all concerned. The results are beginning to indicate that the decision to make it compulsory for food premises to display their food grade certificates publicly and to publish the grades has been successful. However, there is still some work to do."

Members of the public are asked to continue to act as watchdogs on hygiene quality by asking to see certificates of premises where they shop or obtain food. Residents are reminded that they can check the Food Grading Certificate List on Council's website http:// http://www.manukau.govt.nz, at their local library or by calling Council's 24x7 Call Centre 2625104

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

GRADES ACHIEVED - OTARA WARD

Total Food Premises Otara Ward = 245

A grade = 211 (87% up from 75%) B grade = 13 (5%) D grade = 8 (3%) E grade = 13 (5% down from 14%)

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