> North Shore City media release

Food outlets failed to display

> June 27, 2007

>

> A blitz has been carried out on all C, D and E graded food premises in North Shore City to check if their current grading certificates were being displayed.

> North Shore City Council's environmental health team leader, Duffy Visser, says of the 1036 food premises in the city, 53 of these have a C, D or E grade.

> "Nine of these premises were not displaying their current certificates.

> "The council's bylaw requires that a current grading certificate be displayed where customers can clearly see it," says Ms Visser.

> Funaki Enterprises (Birkenhead), Ferryman's Café (Devonport) and Buk Kyung Kyo- Ja (Takapuna) were not displaying a grading certificate.

> Hanabi Japanese Restaurant (Takapuna), Pupuke Roast Takeaways (Forrest Hill) and Le KK Bakery (Takapuna) were displaying B grades instead of their current C graded certificates.

> Kyo-Ya (Takapuna) was displaying a B grade instead of the current D grade. Starbucks Café (Takapuna) was displaying an A grade instead of their current C grade.

> Incognito Café (Devonport) was displaying a certificate however the grade was not visible to the public.

> Mrs Visser says it is important that you look for the certificate before buying food from a store, takeaway bar or restaurant.

> "If you can't see the certificate you should be concerned. We encourage people to question premises that don't display their grade," says Mrs Visser.

> Grades are based on the hygiene standards of the outlet, the maintenance of the building, food handling and storage practices, and the percentage of food handlers trained in food safety, working in that eatery.

> Similar blitz's are planned in the future.

> To check out the standard of food premises and restaurants in North Shore City, please visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz key word: food grading.

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