March 2010

College Refectories Give Food For Thought

All three Stourbridge College refectories have been awarded Gold Awards from the local Environmental Health Office. Catering staff have increased the range of healthy food choices on offer and introduced a traffic light system whereby students can easily identify red, (unhealthy), amber (ok sometimes), Green (Healthy).

Hagley Road Centre, Longlands Centre and The Advanced Technology Centre in Brierley Hill have been awarded The Gold Award for healthy eating options, food safety and hygiene and environmentally friendly practices.

The scheme is run jointly by Dudley Council’s environmental health officers and nutrition advisors from Dudley Primary Care Trust. It aims to increase the availability of healthier food options and sets high standards of good practice in the provision and promotion of healthier food choices prepared and served in a hygienic environment.

To progress towards an award, establishments need to have at least a three-star food safety and hygiene rating. These ‘Scores-on-the-doors’ food hygiene ratings are made when environmental health officers make their compulsory inspections. The kitchens scored five out of five by demonstrating healthy cooking, good choices, clean workstations, high quality food, recycling cardboard and buying recycled disposables to help protect the environment.

Paul Hayes, Catering Manager, said “Last year Longlands was awarded a Silver and Hagley Road a Gold so it’s great that this year we have improved and our high standard is consistent across the board. The staff all work really hard to ensure we serve a wide range of excellent food, it’s great this award recognises their hard work.”

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