The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have developed guidance for food businesses due to Coronavirus (Covid19).
The guidance includes issues such as social distancing for what they call specific food business settings such as supermarkets, good hygiene practice, food packaging, cleaning and waste disposal and management of employee sickness.
The guidance in the link below was published by Public Health England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-food-businesses/guidance-for-food-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19
Some Trade Unions have shown concern about the social distancing of their members, in relation to supermarket staff & Hygiene Inspectors etc.
Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) also known as Environmental Health Practitioners in relation to food inspections, appear to be being moved away from their planned inspections and just dealing with the businesses who they believe present the greatest danger to Public Health.
Whilst this is understandable at present due to the virus, to protect these key workers, I believe the FSA will be planning to continue this as part of their flagship policy “Regulating our Future”, after the Covid19 crisis is over.
Considering the latest research published on Thursday 12th March this year indicates foodborne illness costs the UK £9.1 billion in 2018, to stop or change independent planned food inspections, I believe, would be madness. Link below to this research.
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/the-burden-of-foodborne-disease-in-the-uk.pdf
If you order a take away please check that the food business has at least a 3 rating or above.
“5 – hygiene standards are very good
4 – hygiene standards are good
3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory
2 – some improvement is necessary
1 – major improvement is necessary
0 – urgent improvement is required”
Be safe out there in this very trying time for all and keep on helping others.
Thanks for your continued help and support.