Cornwall CHEFS update June 09
The Cornwall Healthier Eating & Food Safety (CHEFS) Award was launched in October 2005, and relaunched with updated criteria in 2009, to reward caterers who adopt and maintain a high degree of food safety and standards as well as offering their customers healthier options on menus.
It is awarded by food safety officers at Cornwall Council working in partnership with the Eatsome Project (part of the Healthy Living Initiative/NHS Health Promotion Service), Change 4 Life and the Council’s trading standards officers.
The launch of the award in October 2005 was the culmination of over a years work by a sub group of the Cornwall CEHO Food Group. A representative from the Eatsome Project assisted the group on the healthy eating criteria of the award scheme and facilitated two half day training sessions for all food officers in Cornwall, giving guidance on how to assess the healthy eating criteria.
A self-assessment checklist was devised by the Eatsome representative. The group commissioned students from Falmouth College of Art to design the logo for the award, with the winning logo chosen from a shortlist of six entries.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the scheme is to reward caterers who adopt and maintain a high degree of food safety and standards as well as offering their customers healthier options on menus. However businesses are not expected to ensure that every dish served or item sold meets all the criteria – it’s about choice. Customers will also be guaranteed that a percentage of the items on the menu are sourced locally.
The award has three levels: the prestigious gold award, silver and bronze. There are criteria at each level which have to be met. If a business is successful in gaining an award they will get a certificate and a window sticker for display. They will also be added to a list of current award winners which will be displayed on the Council’s website – www.cornwall.gov.uk
Partners
Cornwall Council’s environmental health and trading standards staff, the Eatsome Project and Change 4 Life.
Methodology
The assessments are carried out as part of a routine food hygiene inspection; applications are not required as every eligible business is automatically considered under the scheme at each inspection. Eligible food businesses that score highly on all food hygiene/standards criteria, use of local produce and healthier options will be issued with a CHEFS award.
There are three levels of award to aim for, gold, silver and bronze. The level awarded will be dependent on the extent to which the healthier options have been met. Award winning premises are given a certificate to display along with a window sticker and are required to sign an agreement that stipulates that the award is the property of the Council and will be displayed prominently in their premises. Successful premises are also added to a list which is displayed on the Council’s website.
Resources
No specific resources have been allocated to this initiative although the Eatsome Project assisted with financial funding during the launch. Businesses which appear to meet the award criteria are assessed during their routine food hygiene inspection in order to minimise the amount of extra time that is required to administer the awards.
Evaluation
There are currently nearly 80 food businesses with an award. An evaluation form is completed at the end of the process by the assessor (food safety officer) and the food business operator.
Lessons Learned
- As a countywide initiative it is very important that all officers across the county are consistent in their approach and handling of the award scheme.
- Have clear aims and objectives for the scheme from the outset, and get expert help from partners wherever possible.
- Have a logo for your award that is instantly recognisable and stands out amongst other symbols and logos which often appear on windows and doors.
Future Developments
Four years on from the original launch and with the introduction of Cornwall Council as a unitary authority the working group has decided to relaunch the scheme with new assessment materials incorporating the healthy award criteria adopted in Wales.
All officers will also undergo further training. Further publicity for the scheme is also intended via the Council’s new website and other Council publications.
Contact Details
Contact Name: Martin Holland
Phone: 01736 336638
Email: martin.holland@cornwall.gov.uk
Website: www.cornwall.gov.uk
Organisation: Cornwall Council
Address: Public Health & Protection Cornwall Council, Penzance One Stop Shop, St Clare, Penzance, Cornwall. TR18 3QW
This is an update of the 2004 chefs project
This update was added on 1 July 2009