Sydney's Canada Bay Council is the latest to look at the introduction of a “scores on the doors” system of rating food safety and hygiene standards in restaurants.
The council has confirmed plans to begin a trial of the new system in the area that will see businesses who pass Food Authority inspections awarded certificates with a star rating and be encouraged to display the information on their doors.
Canada Bay mayor, Angelo Tsirekas, told ABC Radio that the new system would reward businesses.
“It's a way of acknowledging that they are doing the right thing,” he said.
“It's a way of informing the general public–not only to see shops that aren't doing the right thing, but also shops that are doing the right thing. So it is a balance.”
The Canada Bay council’s move follows that of Brisbane City Council which is in the process of introducing a similar food safety rating scheme called Eat Safe Brisbane later this year.
Under the scheme businesses will be awarded five stars for excellent levels of compliance, four stars for very good performance, and three stars indicating a good performer. Two stars indicate a poor performer and below this rating businesses are non-compliant.
Businesses that receive three or more stars will have the option to publicly display their star rating later this year.
