A new app which will reveal the star rating of restaurants and other food premises in Merton was launched this week.
Residents and visitors to Merton will now be able to download the Scores on the Doors app for free from iTunes and find out what star rating their favourite restaurant, take away or retailer has achieved. The app can be downloaded from the appstore – search for “Food Hygiene”. The app also covers London and other parts of the UK currently in the scheme.
For those who do not have an iPhone, the WAP browser on most normal phones can also access the information at http://www.sotd.tv. People who do not have an iPhone or WAP access can send a text message with the name of a business, followed by the town or area to 60060. They will then be sent a text showing the star rating. There is a cost of 50p per text plus the normal network rate.
Merton has been operating the nationally recognised Scores on the Doors rating scheme since 2007. The scheme allows residents and visitors to the borough to see how their restaurant scores in the hygiene stakes. Restaurants are awarded up to five stars for the cleanliness of their premises.
Online results are available at http://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk
Merton Council cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration Councillor Andrew Judge said: “We have 532 restaurants in the borough with four stars or more for hygiene which gives all of us who want to enjoy an evening out with friends the reassurance that our restaurants are in top condition. The new app will enable customers to easily make an informed decision about where they want to eat out. We want Merton to provide the best restaurants. Five stars is something we encourage them all to aspire to.”
Steve Miller, Chair of the Association of London Environmental Health Managers said: “I welcome this example of London borough environmental health staff working together with Transparency Data to inform consumers about the standard of food safety attained by businesses.”
“Access to safe food is essential in order to protect the public health of residents and the millions of people who work or visit the capital each year. The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games are fast approaching and they are bringing with them a worldwide focus on the capital. Introducing the initiative now will help raise the awareness of businesses and their responsibilities, and by making the information easily available to customers, we encourage them to use it when they make decisions about where they eat.”
Find out more about the scheme at http://www.merton.gov.uk/scores_on__the__doors
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is the professional voice for environmental health representing over 10,000 members working in the public, private and non-profit sectors. It ensures the highest standards of professional competence in its members, in the belief that through environmental health action people’s health can be improved.
Supported by the London Region of CIEH, this initiative is collaboration between the London Scores on the Doors Group and Transparency Data.