Published: Friday, 11th August 2023
Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has agreed to adopt a new food law enforcement plan for 2023-25. The plan is required by the Food Standards Agency which requires the Council to set out how its food hygiene service is delivered.
The aim is to ensure that all food made, sold and consumed in Cannock Chase District is safe. Officers in Environmental Health work with local businesses to improve food hygiene and reduce food poisoning. Officers also investigate complaints about food, and food premises and respond to food incidents, including National Food Alerts and alleged food poisoning etc.
Officers give businesses a rating from zero (urgent improvement necessary) to five (very good). The vast majority (99%) of the District’s food businesses have a rating of three (satisfactory) or above and 87% have the highest food hygiene rating of five (very good). This reflects the hard work and effort of officers and our local businesses and the excellent working relationships developed. Ratings for food businesses in the District can be viewed by visiting https://ratings.food.gov.uk/
Councillor Tony Johnson, Leader of the Council said “We have almost 900 food premises registered in the District and last year officers carried out a total of 673 inspections and interventions. Each year, we investigate around 70 complaints about food, or food businesses, and respond to 300 requests for advice or assistance. Officers also take food samples as part of national exercises to ensure food is safe and in line with standards.
“Officers make sure poor businesses are quickly identified and tackled so consumers are not put at risk. Just as importantly, businesses that try hard to comply can grow and contribute to the local economy without being subject to unfair competition from businesses who choose not to.”
If you have any concerns over food hygiene in local shops, cafes, takeaways, restaurants, or care homes in Cannock Chase please contact us at environmentalhealth@cannockchasedc.gov.uk