Businesses improve cleanliness within premises and improve how food is prepared for customers
MBABANE – Food producing businesses have upped their game in Mbabane and customers are even safer.
The remarkable improvement by businesses that produce and sell food comes after Council initiated a food grading programme that has helped businesses improve hygiene in their premises.
The grading of food producing businesses was created to capacitate consumers with knowledge on the status of hygiene in food premises and the general condition of the food commodities prior to purchasing. The improvement in the quality of food served and clean premises benefits the customer as it means Mbabane residents buy safe food.
THE GRADING CRITERIA
The food premises are graded on bi-annual basis using an audit score sheet. The score sheets are developed for each type of food outlet. Points are allocated for each area of inspection. It is important to note that the audit score areas are presented in line with the various sections of The Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations of 1973 requirements.
The scores obtained are then added and the final grade is presented as follows:
Grade A = 90-100% Very Clean
Grade B = 80-89% Clean
Grade C = 70-79% Satisfactory
Grade D = 60-69% Not Satisfactory
The grading card is posted on a conspicuous site where the customer will be able to see it before buying food commodities.
Below is the outcome of the grading:
Restaurant | Bakeries | Butcheries | Supermarkets | Convenience Shops | Institutional Kitchens | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Grade A | 41 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Grade B | 39 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Grade C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grade D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
CLOSED | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
1 |
The public is encouraged to report to Council all food premises that fail to prominently display the grading cards in their entrances.
GRADING SUMMARY
During this quarter many premises were found to fall within Grades A & B, and very few premises were recorded in Grades C & D. Generally, 98% of the food premises obtained grades indicative of good hygienic state.
Restaurants
Comparison between the year 2021 and 2022 shows an increase in both A & B Grades from (A – 35 to 41), B Grade (37 to 39), Grade C.
shows an increase from 1 restaurant in 2021 to 5 restaurants in 2022. There were no premises that were graded D in 2021 while only 1 was classified as D in 2022.
Bakeries
There was an increase in premises that attained Grade A compared to premises that received Grade B, no Grade C, and D were recorded.
Butcheries
There was an increase in butcheries that were classified in Grade A, there were no changes in Grade B premises, they maintained the same rating, Grade C showed a slight increase from 3% to 6%, no Grade D were recorded in both 2021 and 2022.
Supermarkets
There was a slight 2% increase in premises that attained Grade A in 2022 compared to 2021, an 8% increase was observed in premises that attained Grade B, Grade C premises maintained the same rate of 4%.
Convenience
There was a decrease in premises classified under Grade B and a 28% increase in premises that attained Grade A, there was no Grade C & D in 2021 and 2022.
Institutional Kitchens
There were no changes in Institutional Kitchens, premises maintained the same Grades A & B, no Grades C & D were recorded.