Food Safety - the Food Grading System
The primary focus of the system is to ensure safe food is being produced, stored, displayed and delivered to the consumer.
Purpose
To raise public awareness that high standards of food (productions and preparation) is being achieved. This allows consumers to make an informed decision when purchasing food.
This system is beneficial to food premises owners as it allows them to promote their business through their grade.
A premise will be assessed on the following criteria:
Premise structure
- Complaince with structural requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974
- Premises in all respects suitable for the purpose and able to be registered
- Adequate facilities with no serious deficienceis in construction, layout and repair
Conduct and practices
- Safe food storage and display
- Appropriate management systems in place
- Good monitoring and recording practices established
- Pest management systems in place
Premise cleaning and sanitising
- Excellent overall standard of cleanliness
Premise staff training
Note: If the Supervisor/s - Manager/s have not completed NZQA Unit 168 or equivalent by the given date, the highest score a premises can obtain is a 3.
- Staff are trained in Food Safety
For each criteria a score between 5 - 0 will be made. Out of a possible total of 20 the grade will be determined.
The grades are:
A = Excellent - where an inspection score of 17-20 is achieved.
B = Satisfactory - where an inspection score of 12-16 is achieved.
D = Unsatisfactory - where an inspection score of 11-6 is achieved.
E = Substandard - where the inspection score is below 6 (Prosectuion or closure is likely)
Why no C?
There is no C grade to have a clear separation between the grades. This means A and B grades = good and D and E = below standard.
Note:
Please be aware that this grading system only applies to those food premises that re registered (or have a health licence) with the Palmerston North City Council. There are some food premises that are exempt from being registered by Council as they have an approved Food Safety Programme from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority eg. supermarkets.
It is a requirement to display the grading certificate (Health Licence) to the public.
If you have any questions or require further information regarding the grading of premises please contact Environmental Services at the Palmerston North City Council on phone (06) 356 8199 or alternatively e-mail