Stockport Labour Group has called for new powers for restaurants and takeaways to be obligated to display their food hygiene ratings following safety concerns at a number of local venues.

In autumn last year the Food Standards Agency gave 5 local businesses a ‘zero’ rating for hygiene, meaning ‘urgent improvement is required’ by a venue serving food to the public.

After raising the proposal at Stockport Council on 28th January, Labour Councillor Maureen Rowles said ‘The majority of restaurants and takeaways in Stockport offer good standards of food hygiene – this proposal is about local residents being able to make better informed choices about where they eat.

‘The Food Standards Agency estimates that 57% of businesses in England already display their hygiene ratings, so it is already industry best practice, but the proportion reduces when you have a venue which isn’t rated either good or very good.

‘I’d like to see our community in Stockport afforded the same protections as people who eat out in Wales have been since 2013. A change to the regulations has seen great strides in food standards there, and it’s time for this step forward in England.’

The Welsh Assembly introduced new rules in 2013 and has used them to successfully drive up standards following a number of high profile food poisoning incidents.

Councils cannot currently act unilaterally to introduce stronger regulation in their local areas, but Local Authorities in Birmingham and Leicester, as well as a number of industry experts, have called for the Government to extend similar powers across England.

Coun. Rowles added ‘I’m delighted that locally the Council Executive have agreed to look into this, but I’d like to see Stockport take a national lead and lobby the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health for premises serving food in England to be legally obligated to display their food hygiene ratings.

‘This is a question about public safety – the Food Standards Agency has said it is ‘starting to build the case for the mandatory display of ratings’, but we need increased powers across England on this now.’

The 5 Stockport food venues given a ‘zero’ rating by the Food Standards Agency last year were Romero’s in Reddish; Sizzlerz in Adswood; Sky Way Grill in Stockport; Spicy Kitchen in Gatley; and Thrill on Grill also in Adswood.