The new ‘Eat Safe’ scheme was launched this morning by the Food Standards Agency Scotland, (FSAS), and within hours, Glasgow City Council had received the great news that The Living Room, St Vincent Street had passed the assessment carried out by the city’s Environmental Health Officers.  The ‘Eat Safe’ award is designed to promote excellence in food hygiene and food safety across Scotland.

Councillor David Stevenson, Convener of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Services said:

“We are obviously delighted that Glasgow is leading the way by example in Scotland and we expect many more of our entertainment venues to follow.  “Glasgow is well known for its wide selection of top quality locations. This new award will not just endorse the high quality of food available in the city, but the equally high level of care taken in its preparation.”

John Branagan, Executive Chef Director of The Living Room in Glasgow added: “Maintaining a clean, healthy & safe working environment is of paramount importance in our industry and I endeavour to ensure we always strive for perfection in this area. To win this award is very special to me, but to be the first recipient in Scotland is a privilege”

Background:

Initially the ‘Eat Safe’ award will be limited to catering operations to which the public has access, including hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs serving food, takeaways, coffee shops, in-store restaurants, most hospital canteens, some workplace restaurants (with public access) and catering college restaurants.

The launch of the ‘Eat Safe’ award scheme in Scotland follows discussions between the FSAS, the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health of Scotland, the Scottish Food Advisory Committee, Scottish Local Authorities and the FSA in Northern Ireland (FSANI).

New legislation in 2006 will mean that catering outlets will have to meet higher criteria to pass inspections.  The ‘Eat Safe’ award is given to catering venues that have a higher standard of food safety and hygiene than the present legislation demands.

A pilot of the ‘Eat Safe’ award scheme has already been developed and implemented in Northern Ireland and the FSAS took advice from the FSANI on their experiences before developing the scheme in Scotland.

Eligible establishments will be assessed for the ‘Eat Safe’ award as part of scheduled food hygiene inspections carried out by Environmental Health Services.

The issue and control of ‘Eat Safe’ award certificates will be through local authorities. The certificates will be reviewed at every planned food hygiene inspection.

Further information about the ‘Eat Safe’ award scheme is available on the website www.eatsafe.gov.uk.