Safer Food Better Business

Following national funding to help local businesses meet latest legislation, and as part of their ongoing work to ensure food safety standards across the area, Dover District Council has hosted special food safety seminars for almost 100 local businesses.

Regulations mean that all food businesses must have strict procedures in place and must keep records to demonstrate effectiveness. During the summer of 2006, a bid was successfully submitted to the Food Standards Agency, who introduced the Safer Food Better Business Pack, by Environmental Health teams across Kent, including DDC, to obtain a grant to provide Safer Food Better Business seminars and coaching to food businesses across the county. There have been six seminars held in the district and many follow up coaching visits to individual businesses. During the six seminars a total of 96 local businesses attended and 84 of those received a follow up coaching visit.

The seminars and follow up coaching sessions have now been completed but DDC continues to evaluate businesses, and provide advice and coaching where necessary. They also continue to distribute copies of the information pack.

For more details, or a copy of the information pack, contact the Food Standards Agency on 0845 606 0667 or visit www.food.gov.uk or contact DDC Environmental Health on 01304 872216, email envhealth@dover.gov.uk or see www.dover.gov.uk.