chefs and food managers from Asian eateries who took part in the training
chefs and food managers from Asian eateries who took part in the training

Restaurants in Lichfield have been given extra training to make sure they are preparing food in clean and hygienic kitchens.

The training – which was given thanks to £35,000 of funding from the Food Standards Agency – was given to 190 food businesses to help them improve their rating in a hygiene ranking system.

Ratemyplace is the scheme that awards gold stars to food businesses based on how well managed their food hygiene and safety is – as decided by food safety inspectors.

To help food premises to get more stars, Lichfield District Council has spent the grant training local businesses that have achieved three or fewer stars.

Councillor Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Environmental Protection, said:

“This grant has allowed us to deliver a first class training programme, and we are all delighted that so many local food businesses have benefited from it.”

As part of the training, an expert food safety trainer visited each of the companies to teach them how to improve their food hygiene and safety routines.

The council also used Chinese and Bengali speaking coaches to target local Chinese and Asian restaurants, to make sure they benefit from the training as well.

To check the Ratemyplace score for food outlets across Lichfield and Burntwood visit www.ratemyplace.org.uk.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.