Are you planning the perfect Valentine's date?

Planning the perfect date can be stressful as there's a lot to worry about, including of course – whether you will get on and if you will make a good impression.

So the last thing you want to think about before an important dinner is whether or not the place you choose takes food hygiene seriously.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme means you don't have to. 

The Food Standards Agency is urging you look before you book and check the food hygiene rating before deciding where to go on your special date.

The truth is you can't tell a restaurant's hygiene standards by how clean and tidy the staff look or by how romantic the décor and ambience is.

It's the things you can't see – germs spread by bad hygiene practices – which you need to consider.  There's one easy way to set your mind at rest – check the food hygiene rating. This tells you about hygiene standards in restaurants and other food businesses.

It's really simple to check. Just go online to the Food Standard Agency's website: www.food.gov.uk/ratings or if you're out and about look for the green and black sticker; if you can't see one just ask the staff.

The ratings are determined by Stratford-on-Avon District Council food safety officers and range from 0 to 5, with a 5 rating meaning very good food hygiene standards.

92% of food businesses in Stratford District are rated a 3 or higher so there are plenty of places with good food hygiene standards, you can choose from. This means you can easily avoid taking your special date to those places not meeting the grade.

It's good for business too…..

Valentine's is a busy time for food businesses and a good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of. So make sure you reassure your customers by putting your sticker up in the window. Businesses with higher food hygiene ratings agree that can helps bring hungry customers through the door.

Thousands of food businesses displaying a 3 to 5 rating say it made a positive difference to their business.

You can find out more at www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/hygieneratings

Catriona Stewart, head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the FoodStandards Agency, said: “On Valentine's Day people are focused on making sure that special lunch or dinner goes well and that they make a good impression with their date.   We want them to factor in the food hygiene rating when deciding where to go and then enjoy their romantic meal out."

The Environmental Health Team at Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “When planning your special meal out, make sure you check the hygiene ratings online and choose a restaurant that takes food hygiene seriously. This is also an important time for local food businesses as a good food hygiene rating is something to be proud of. It matters to customers so we are encouraging all businesses in Stratford to display their rating."

For more information, visit www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/hygieneratings

The Food Hygiene Ratings can be found at: www.food.gov.uk/ratings

Frequently asked questions and answers can be found at: www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/hygiene-rating-schemes/rating-schemes-faqs-en

Stratford-on-Avon District Council and the FSA want to:

• give consumers information about hygiene standards in food outlets so that they can make informed choices
• drive up hygiene standards in food businesses
• reduce the incidence of foodborne illness (this is estimated at around 500,000 cases annually from the main causes of foodborne illness.  Including all types of food borne disease could double this figure to nearer 1 million cases a year)

The scheme covers businesses supplying or serving food direct to consumers such as restaurants, takeaways, cafés, pubs, hotels, schools, hospitals, care homes, supermarkets and other retailers.

There are six hygiene ratings ranging from '0' (urgent improvement required) at the bottom to '5' (very good) at the top.

The scheme is designed so that all businesses, no matter how small can achieve the top rating by meeting (not exceeding) the legal requirements and any improvements needed to get a higher rating are no more than is required by law.