Carmarthenshire's school kitchens are top of the class


Carmarthenshire's school kitchens are top of the class when it comes to hygiene standards.
Following inspections, carried out by the council’s public health services team, 92 per cent Carmarthenshire’s primary and secondary schools scored a five star rating, denoting ‘excellent’ standards – the highest possible grading.
All others scored four stars, or ‘very good’ standard, apart from one school that received three stars, or ‘good’ standard which was due to structural work that has since been addressed.
More than £600,000 was spent repairing and upgrading kitchens in 2013/14, with improvements including the re-painting of kitchen walls and ceilings, replacing shelves and counters and re-tiling, as well as the installation of ventilation systems.
Non-slip flooring has also been laid and new windows installed in a small number of schools, along with new dishwashers and ovens.
Sandra Weigel, catering services manager, said: “We are constantly monitoring all of our school kitchens to ensure they are up to standard and fit for our staff to prepare school meals.
“It is very satisfying to see the investment we have put in to school kitchens reflected so well in the grading awarded by inspectors.”
All inspections are carried out unannounced by the council’s public health services team.
Five stars are awarded when the kitchen demonstrates a very high standard of compliance with food safety legislation and best practice in management.
Four stars are awarded when a kitchen shows a high standard of compliance with food safety legislation with robust food safety management, and three stars are awarded when a kitchen demonstrates a good level of legal compliance, and where only minor structural issues need to be addressed.
Executive board member for catering services, Cllr Colin Evans, said:”Having a clean and safe environment in which to prepare school meals is absolutely essential.
“This huge investment proves that we are committed to providing the very best kitchen environments in our schools.”
For further information visit http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/ or call 01267 246521 or email facilitiesmanagement@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

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