Eat Safe Brisbane backgrounder
17 February, 2010
Eat Safe Brisbane backgrounder
Food Rating Schemes are becoming standard around the world, with cities including London, Toronto, and Los Angeles, making inspection results publicly available.
These programs have proven to be a success in improving food safety standards, and also reducing the incidence of food-borne illnesses.
In 1998 in Los Angeles, 57 per cent of restaurants got an “A” grade when the program began. By 2005, the number had grown to 84 per cent, and the number of hospitalisations for food-borne illnesses dropped by over 13 per cent.
• Businesses will still be audited under the same Food Act 2006 and Food Safety Standards.
• Licence fees will still be charged annually however top performers will get discounts.
• The frequency of audits will vary spending on star rating, with poor performers monitored more closely.
• If a business disagrees with the rating, they can request an audit review.
• Food businesses with a rating of three stars or above can opt-in to having their results displayed publicly on their premises and published on a public website.
• Food businesses can receive a no star, two stars, three stars, four stars, or five star rating.
The Stars …
A No star rating indicates a non-compliant performer (a general failure to comply with the food safety standards and major effort required to rectify issues).
A two star rating indicates a poor performer (low level compliance with the food safety standards with more effort required).
Three stars indicate a good performer (good level of compliance with the Food Safety Standards and overall acceptable standard of food safety management practices).
A four star rating indicates a very good performer (high standard of compliance with the food safety standards and overall good standard of food safety management practices).
Five stars indicate an excellent performer (fully compliant with the food safety standards and overall very high standard of food safety management practices).
