Ardlough care home earns Eat Safe Award

The award, which has been in operation in Northern Ireland since June 2003, is administered by Derry City Council’s Environmental Health Department in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Food Standards Agency.

Welcoming the presentation of the award, the 21st of its kind to be issued in the Derry City Council area, the Mayor praised the work of the staff at care home on achieving such an accolade.

Siobhan O’Doherty, Environmental Health Officer with Derry City Council said: “This award is a great achievement for everyone involved. “The staff at this care home must be congratulated on working hard to go above and beyond what is required by food hygiene law. I am confident that this success will encourage other local food businesses in the area to consider seeking this important accreditation.”

The main aim of the scheme is to provide an incentive to caterers to strive for food hygiene and food safety excellence by effectively implementing management standards beyond those required by law.

The award certificates, which are placed in premises, also help consumers make informed choices about where to eat out by providing a recognisable ‘sign’ of excellence in standards of food hygiene.

Updates are also given to caterers and other stakeholders through an ‘Eat Safe Now!’ newsletter.

Eligible establishments are assessed for the award as part of scheduled food hygiene inspections carried out by the Council’s Environmental Health Officers while the issuing and control of the Eat Safe award certificates is also handled by the Council in conjunction with Food Standards Agency.

The award is open to all catering operations such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs serving food, takeaways, coffee shops, in-store restaurants, hospital canteens, workplace restaurants, catering college restaurants, school canteens and nursing/residential homes. For further details contact your local Environmental Health Department.