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SCORES ON THE DOORS In October 2007, Lisburn City Council launched the ‘Scores on the Doors’ scheme for food premises in the area. The scheme has been a huge success both with the public and local businesses. Since the websites inception it has attracted over 36,000 requests for information. The scheme is a means of indicating how well food businesses meet current food laws and to help consumers make informed choices. Each of Lisburn’s food premises will be given a star rating based on their compliance with food safety requirements with five stars the highest rating and zero stars the lowest. Those premises scoring three stars and above are regarded as having good or better standards of food hygiene. 
The Scores on the Doors Food Safety Rating Scheme comprises of two elements: 1. The Scores on the Doors, whereby food hygiene information is displayed voluntarily by businesses at the point of sale vis a certificate and/or window sticker. 2. The Scores on the Web, wherby the Council proactively provides web based information to the consumer. The overall premises rating is based on three key areas of compliance: - Confidence in Management of the business including the track record of the company, its willingness to act on previous advice and enforcement, and the attitude of the present management towards hygiene and food safety.
- The current level of compliance of food hygiene practices and procedures including food handling practices and temperature control.
- The current level of compliance relating to the structure of the premises, including cleanliness, layout, condition of structure, lighting, ventilation, washing facilities etc.
The ratings can only reflect the standards seen at the time of inspection, and many busineses have improved their standards following the inspection and advice from Lisburn City Council's Food Team. The star ratings are now available for members of the public to view online on the council website. Click here to view the site. The website has been complied with the support of the UK Food Standards Agency. In addition, you can look in the window or on the door of a food business to see if they are displaying their star rating certificate or sticker. Gradings for premises are based on the findings of Environmental Health inspections carried out since 1 June 2007. The website will be periodically updated as further inspections are carried out. The 'Scores on the Doors' scheme involves 127 local authorities throughout the UK. Further advice can be obtained from an information leaflet or by contacting the Council’s Environmental Health Service. Tel: 028 9250 9250, email: ehealth@lisburn.gov.uk or visit lisburncity.gov.uk. On 22 October 2007, Lisburn City Council was delighted to welcome many of the food businesses that had achieved a five star rating to Lagan Valley Island. The Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter, presented each of the businesses with certificates of accreditation. 
Mrs Jacqueline Evans, proprietor of Cafe Vic-Ryn, has consistently adhered to the highest standards in food hygiene. On receiving the 5 Star Rating she said: "Food safety and cleanliness is of the utmost importance in my business - equally as important as the raw materials we use to create the food we sell. To achieve this high standard, we work hard to follw the procedures that we have in place. I am totally behind the Scores on the Doors scheme and welcome the recognition on behalf of Cafe Vic-Ryn." 
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