Junee Shire Council has elected to adopt the NSW Food Authority’s Scores on Doors program to promote food safety in the local hospitality industry.
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The program allows businesses to voluntarily display a food safety rating of good, very good or excellent on their door.
Council development manager Paul O’Brien said for the majority of Junee cafes and restaurants already scoring high in their food and safety inspections, the program will allow them to “display how well they went”.
“It gives the general public confidence in how their food is being prepared,” Mr O’Brien said.
He said his experience with the program in other local government areas has been positive.
“This will encourage those not achieving at that level to lift their game.”
Council has not elected to display the ratings on their website; a “name and shame” feature of the program adopted elsewhere.
Mr O’Brien said the program will be accompanied by individualised “step-by-step” programs to assist businesses to lift their standard.
Kylie Duck, co-owner of Duckie’s Cafe said she doesn’t think the scheme is a bad idea, but has some reservations.
“The only negative is that I feel in a small country town, our local businesses work together,” Ms Duck said.
“This is sort of like pitting us against each other.”
Debbie Daley, owner of the Junee Railway Station Cafe, said she’s “very for it.”
She has seen the program work well at her other establishment, The Back Door Cafe in Wagga.
“Cafes in Wagga have had it for two or three years, it’ll raise the standard,” Ms Daley said.
The program will roll out with the next round of food inspections.
Mr O’Brien said food shops will be provided with a copy of last year’s report and details on how to improve their rating by post in the lead up.
Scores on Doors was first piloted in 2010.
