1. food and drink
2. food and grocery retailers
3. butchers

SOCIAL CARE, HEALTH AND HOUSING
CABINET BOARD
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF BUSINESS STRATEGY AND PUBLIC
PROTECTION – A. THOMAS
14th May 2015
SECTION B - MATTER FOR INFORMATION
WARD(S) AFFECTED: All
TITLE OF REPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS – FOOD HYGIENE TRAINING
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To inform Members of the work that the Environmental Health Food Safety team does to
educate and train Food business operators in Neath Port Talbot to produce safe food.
BACKGROUND
The Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service successfully bid for two grant
from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which enabled an extensive range of workshops and
coaching to be organised in 2014 / 15 to train and educate targeted sectors of food
businesses within Neath Port Talbot on safe food management systems.
European and National legislation require that all food businesses must have procedures in
place to ensure they have adequate food safety management procedures.
A Food Safety Management System is a way of managing food safety and is based on
putting in place procedures to control hazards.
Food Business Operators should:1. Closely examine what they do and assess what could go wrong.
2. Identify areas that need attention to either prevent hazards or reduce them to an
acceptable level.
3. Put procedures in place to ensure hazards are controlled in specific areas,
4. Decide what action is needed if something does go wrong
5. Make sure that their procedures work.
Environmental Health’s Food Safety Team have participated in a number of projects, as a
result of the FSA funding that they have received and details of some of these are shown
below.
Project 1 – Butcher and Chinese training
Butcher Training – “Safe Food Handling for Butchers”
There are currently 17 butchery establishments within the Neath Port Talbot CBC area, all
of which were offered the opportunity to attend 2 organised workshops on the “Safe Food
Handling for Butchers” latest guide produced by the Food Standards Agency Northern
Ireland and the Chief Environmental Health Officers Group Northern Ireland. All butchers
also had the opportunity to arrange a “one to one” coaching visit at the business premises
on their safe food management system with the emphasis on either Safer Food Better
Business or the Butchers guide.
59% of all Neath Port Talbot butchers attended a workshop. The workshop comprised of a
presentation of the guide and all butchers were encouraged to bring their current
HACCP (Hazard and Critical Control Points) plan to enable relevant advice and
information to be tailored to the business. Two butchers attended the workshop
who were in the process of renovating a butchery establishment and intended to
start trading in the near future as Valley Butchers in Ystalyfera.
The aim of the workshops was to assist the Butchers to gain invaluable experience and
knowledge on all relevant issues to assist them to improve understanding of the on-going
requirements of the Pennington report, to comply with food hygiene legislation and to
build on existing good practice. Raising awareness of the recently published “Safe Food
Handling for Butchers” Northern Ireland guidance also gave an opportunity to promote the
revised FSA guidance “E.Coli 0157 Control of cross contamination”.
The workshops were held in Neath Civic Centre, Neath on the 13th October 2014 between
2pm and 5pm and in Port Talbot Civic Centre, Port Talbot on 20th October 2014 between
10am to 1pm.
Each workshop and coaching visit was carried out by an external contractor employed by
the authority specifically to undertake this work and funded entirely from the FSA grants.
A follow up coaching visit was carried out to 6 Butchers in Neath Port Talbot. These
butchers requested the visit which was carried out at the business premise and comprised
of a meeting with the food business operator to discuss and advise on the appropriate safe
food management system for that business.
It is hoped that the businesses which attended the workshop and received a coaching visit
under this initiative and have not yet attained the highest possible food hygiene rating will
improve their food safety management system and procedures and consequently their
confidence in management score by the time of their next inspection.
Chinese training on “Safer Food Better Business”
All Chinese food business operators were invited to training event in the Gnoll Country
Park, Neath on 12th January 2015. The course was delivered to food businesses on the safe
food management system guide “ Safer Food Better Business”. There are 35 Chinese food
businesses operating throughout Neath Port Talbot, 27 businesses had a representative
who attended the course (77%), 4 businesses has 2 representatives and 2 businesses had 3
representatives present to learn about safe food management procedures.
A qualified trainer also visited interested Chinese food businesses to provide one to one
coaching visits to educate and assist the food business operator to have procedures in place
to manage food safety hazards in their business. The funding for the coaching visits allowed
9 businesses to be visited by the trainer. All available coaching sessions were taken up and
were completed by the end of February 2015.
Project 2 -Joint Training Initiative between Neath Port Talbot CBC and Swansea City
Council
A joint initiative between Neath Port Talbot CBC and Swansea City Council enabled training
events to be held for food businesses on the National guidance issued by the Food
Standards Agency in the published guide “Safer Food Better Business”. The training
involved the use of a mobile kitchen facility which allowed practical food hygiene training to
be given in conjunction with a presentation on the FSA published guide. Demonstrations
included practical cross contamination control and also 2 –stage cleaning.
The training workshop was run on 4 occasions and each workshop was open to 20
businesses consisting of 10 from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and 10 from
Swansea City Council. Two workshops were run for English businesses, one for Chinese and
one for Bengali. Turkish food businesses received a coaching visit from a Turkish speaking
trainer.
The aim of the workshops and coaching were to target underachieving businesses which
have scored poorly for management under the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. A
translator was present at the Chinese workshop to re-enforce understanding.
Bengali Food Business Workshop
A Bengali language trainer visited businesses before and after delivering the training course
on 24th September 2014 to ensure positive attendance and positive output from the
training. Seven businesses from Neath Port Talbot attended the course, mainly Indian
takeaways and restaurants.
Chinese Food Business workshop
The Workshop was delivered by Environmental Health Officers with the assistance of a
translator. 5 food businesses from Neath Port Talbot attended the course which included a
practical demonstration using the mobile kitchen.
English Business workshops
An excellent attendance from Neath Port Talbot food businesses saw representatives from
17 Food businesses attend the two workshops organised. The businesses ranged from Day
Nurseries, Coffee shops and Fish and Chip shops.
Turkish Food Business coaching
A Turkish language food hygiene trainer delivered food hygiene training based around the
“ Safer Food Better Business” guide, at the business premises on a coaching basis. This
involved a 2 hour advice and coaching session with 10 Food Hygiene business, mainly Kebab
and Burger/Pizza businesses.
Importance of Food Safety
The Food Safety team aims to protect and improve public health by inspecting food
businesses and educating managers and staff within the food industry to ensure that food
that is made and/or sold is safe to eat. The food team routinely inspect food businesses
throughout the County Borough to ensure it is safe to eat, however, training and educating
Food Business Operators is important to raise awareness of their food hygiene
requirements and their legal obligations. Safe Food management systems are also
considered by Inspecting Officers when awarding Food hygiene rating scores. The Food
Hygiene Rating Scheme is designed to help consumers choose where to eat out or shop by
providing information about hygiene standards in restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways,
hotels etc, as well as supermarkets and other food shops. A list of all of the businesses that
have attended the training described in this report is attached as Appendix I.
List of Background Papers
None
Wards Affected
All
Officer Contact
Angela Thomas, Head of Business Strategy & Public Protection
Tel: 01639 763794, email a.j.thomas@npt.gov.uk
Steve Adie, Principal Officer Environmental Health and Trading Standards. Tel: 01639
685644, email s.adie@npt.gov.uk
Mark Thomas, Environmental Health Manager. Tel: 01639 685678, email
m.thomas2@npt.gov.uk
APPENDIX I
List of Businesses that have attended Training provided by the Food Safety Team
Butcher Training
Butchers who attended the workshop in Neath Civic Centre, Neath on 13th October 2014 :–
Marks Family Butchers 40-41 Commercial Street, Gwynfi
Ponty Butchers
71 Herbert Street, Pontardawe
Bleddyn Howells 8 High Street, Pontardawe
AJ Meats 1 Neath Market, Green Street, Neath
Skewen Poultry 10 Combes Road, Skewen
Paul Cole Family Butcher 20 Neath General Market, Green Street, Neath
Mark Griffiths Butchers 72 Gwilym Road, Cwmllynfell
Butchers who attended the workshop in Port Talbot Civic Centre, Port Talbot on 20th
October 2014 :–
Davies Family Butcher 3 Wyvern Avenue, Sandfields, Port Talbot
Gwyrd Mountain Meats Crachlwyn Farm, Gwryd Road, Pontardawe
Valley Butchers, 78-80 Commercial Street, Ystalyfera
Not yet trading
Butchers who received the coaching visit :Bleddyn Howells 8 High Street, Pontardawe
Paul Cole Family Butcher 20 Neath General Market, Green Street, Neath
Gwyrd Mountain Meats Crachlwyn Farm, Gwryd Road, Pontardawe
AJ Meats 1 Neath Market, Green Street, Neath
Davies Family Butcher 3 Wyvern Avenue, Sandfields, Port Talbot
Wayne Morgan 1 Heol Cae Gurwen, Graig Cae Gurwen
Chinese Food businesses who attended the workshop on 12th January 2015 : Rainbow House, Pontardawe
Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant, Port Talbot
Golden Triangle, Pontardawe
Dragon House, Briton Ferry
Chopsticks, Neath
Oriental Garden, Pontardawe
Lucky Star, Neath
Ystalyfera Chinese Food To Takeaway, Ystalyfera
Cwmgors Cantonese, Cwmgors
China Chef, Skewen
Super Fry, Baglan
Jade Garden Chinese Takeaway, Port Talbot
Panda Takeaway, Port Talbot
Skewen Chinese Takeaway, Skewen
New Garden Chinese Takeaway, Briton Ferry
Happy Wok Chinese, Briton Ferry
Pearl Chop Suey House, Port Talbot
Turkish Businesses that received training :Burger Station, Neath
BBQ Grill and Pizza
Flames, Pontardawe
Istanbul, Port Talbot
Best Kebab, Port Talbot
Papinos, Neath
Family Kebab, Neath
Pizza Pizza, Port Talbot
Marmaris Kebab, Skewen
Pontardawe Kebab, Pontardawe
Implementing Safer Food Better Business (SFBB)' Workshop & Training
English Speaking (29/09/14)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Piper Fish Bar
Unit 4 Dwr Y Felin Road Caewern
Neath SA10 7BZ
Café Lagoon Palm Court, Fabian Way Crymlyn Burrows Swansea
SA1 8QB
Crynant Fish Bar 1 Station Road
Crynant
Neath SA10 8NW
Tennessee Chicken
2 The parade
Neath SA11 1PU
Tennessee Chicken
2 The parade
Neath SA11 1PU
The Celtic Lodge 36 Westernmoor Road
Neath SA11 1BZ
The Celtic Lodge 36 Westernmoor Road
Neath SA11 1BZ
The Celtic Lodge 36 Westernmoor Road
Neath SA11 1BZ
Parish of Neath Youth Group c/o 18 Llewellyn Avenue
Neath
English Speaking (01/10/14)
1
Miles of Smiles Day Nursery, Unit 2&3 Pentwyn Baglan Rd, Baglan, Port Talbot SA12
EB
Margam Fish Bar 76 Margam Road Taibach
Port Talbot SA13 2BW
Nisa 22 Talbot Road
Port Talbot SA13 1DN
Nisa 22 Talbot Road
Port Talbot SA13 1DN
Rise Coffee Shop New Road Skewen
Neath
Fairfield Baguettes 130 Water Street Aberafan Port Talbot SA13 2LH
Fairfield Baguettes 130 Water Street Aberafan Port Talbot SA13 2LH
Newman’s Pickles 79 Moorland Road Cimla Neath SA11 1JL
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Chinese Speaking (30/09/14)
1
2
3
4
5
Eastern Kitchen 75 Windsor Rd Neath SA11 1NG
Rainbow House 29 Church Street Pontardawe Swansea
SA8 4JB
Happy Wok 117 Neath Road Briton Ferry Neath SA11 2BZ
Happy Wok 17 Victoria Road Sandfields Port Talbot SA12 6QG
Ming Kee 5 Wern Road
Ystalyfera
Bengali Speaking Food Businesses (24/9/2014)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Unique Spices, Skewen
Shelinas Tandoori Indian Takeaway, Taibach
Chandri, Neath
Noble Balti, Neath
Raaz – Taste the mystery
Raj Balti, Pontardawe, Pontardawe
Seema, Neath