The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, an evaluation of food hygiene standards, has encouraged employees to review their Christmas venues to prevent food poisoning.
With Christmas approaching, an estimated 32m employees will have a Christmas work party.
More than 1m food poisoning cases occur in the UK each year, therefore, food hygiene should be a fundamental consideration in event planning.
To prevent these food poising cases, employees can check their venues food hygiene ratings by following: www.food.gov.uk/ratings. This website gives the food hygiene ratings of every bar, restaurant, hotel and takeaway across the country.
The scheme, run by the Food Standards Agency, will award food businesses a rating from 5 (very good hygiene) to 0 (urgent improvement required). These ratings will take into account the hygienic handling, the storage of food, how the food is prepared, the cleanliness of the facilities and how food safety is managed.
Angela Towers, head of the Food Hygiene Rating team, Food Standards Agency, said: “There is so much pressure on office party planners to deliver the very best Christmas party each year and when food becomes a factor, the level of responsibility is further increased – not just for taste and quality – but hygiene too.
“The food hygiene ratings website allows you to check the rating of your shortlisted venues in seconds, meaning you can book your Christmas party with confidence – giving you one less thing to worry about.”
