Golden A for food outlets to strive for

Auckland's top restaurants and hotels can now go for a new star hygiene rating under revamped food safety rules.

Auckland City Council is responsible for inspecting more than 3000 food outlets in the city and previously used a food safety rating system of A, B, D and E, with A excellent and E poor.

While the basic system remains unchanged, from this week the council will begin assessing food outlets that are star hygiene performers to see if they merit a "Golden A" rating.

This will be handed out under new inspection criteria that change the emphasis of hygiene inspections to food preparation and cooking.

For the first time there will be checks on the risk of cross-contamination of food, food handling and food temperature.

"Up to now we've been concentrating on floors, walls and ceilings rather than looking at how the food was prepared and cooked," said Auckland City spokesman Darryl Thompson.

Because so many of Auckland's restaurants and cafes were rated A for food safety, there was room for a new category that would recognise the best in the business, he said.

"Golden A-rated premises will have an outstanding record in food safety and show a commitment well above the minimum required by current regulations."

Long-time restaurateur Judith Tabron, currently manager of Soul Bar and Bistro, said she would want to see whether any compliance costs were involved before she rushed to achieve the new rating.

The restaurant was already going "above and beyond" what was required.

"I'm not sure food safety is what drives people to eat in a restaurant," Ms Tabron said.

Besides excellent food and wine, "I think it's ambience and a fun atmosphere."

Auckland City's decision to add to the rating system comes ahead of the New Zealand Food Standards Authority's major review of food safety rules. A draft set of new measures is expected to be released by the authority in November.

Mr Thompson said the council wanted to get in first.

"We wanted to raise the bar."

Around 5 per cent of Auckland's food outlets are expected to make the Golden A grade. Others could initially find the new rules tough.

EATING OUT

* 3274 food outlets rated on hygiene every six months

* 2867 (87.6 per cent) have an A rating.

* 353 (10.8 per cent) have a B.

* 40 (1.2 per cent) have a D.

* 14 (0.4 per cent) have an E.