Cambridgeshire out of school club gets a 1* only food hygiene rating

An out of school club operating from a Cambridgeshire primary school has been given a 1* only food hygiene rating after a health inspection.

Details of the visit by East Cambridgeshire District Council environmental health officers emerged today in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Operators Dawn Until Dusk Ltd were inspected on June 6 at Bottisham Primary School near Cambridge and warned of the consequences of not dealing with the issues raised.

“The matters detailed in the attached schedule require your attention,” the company was told.

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“This confirms the things you need to do to comply with the law with the relevant legislation listed under each item.

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“Some items may be listed as recommendations, and these are included to give you advice in support of your business but are not requirements in law.

“Any legal requirements relating to cleaning, temperature control and practices require your attention immediately. Other items should be completed within the next two months.

“A re-visit will take place in approximately one months’ time when it is expected that all legal requirements will have been attended to. Should you fail to attend to these items within this period formal action will be considered.”

Richard Garnett, senior environmental health Officer, advised Dawn Until Dusk to contact him so he could help them to understand how their rating was worked out.

The report also found that “due to the observations made at the time of the inspection and detailed throughout this letter, it was apparent that food handlers had not being suitably instructed and/or were not being adequately supervised.”

“If you have improved the hygiene standards since your inspection, or if there were unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection that might have affected your food hygiene rating, you have a ‘right of reply’ so that you can explain this to potential customers who look up your rating online,” he said.

“If you have acted to rectify the non-compliances identified at the time of the inspection you can request a re-visit with a view to being given a new and possibly higher food hygiene rating.

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“Re-rating visits are now charged at a fee of £150 before the re-rating inspection is undertaken.”

Among the issues raised by the inspectors were:

1: The air temperature of refrigerator was 10°C. The jam (stored in the door) was probed and found to be 10°C. A sausage roll (stored in the main part of the fridge) was probed and found to be 6.9°C. It was noted that the fridge was over full of food. The company was told to ensure that the temperature of all high-risk foods in this fridge are kept at 8°C or below at all times.

2: Taps to the sink in the room are touched by contaminated hands before they are washed and then they are touched with clean hands after they have been washed. The report said this presents a contamination hazard for hands after they have been washed by touching the contaminated taps. “Taps to a wash hand basin must be turned off using disposable paper towel. Alternatively, taps with levers would be a better option”.

3: Opened packets of cereal were stored on a rack in the room which poses a risk of contamination from foreign objects, allergens, dust and/or pests.

“Opened packets/bags of food need to be kept in individual food grade containers with lids (keep the original packaging), the opened top should be folded over and clipped together, or the product wrapped in cling film”.

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4: There was no wash hand basin provided in the room where food is handled and prepared. The club was told to install a wash hand basin in this room with an adequate supply of hot and cold (or appropriately mixed) running water, soap, and hygienic means of drying hands.

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“You were informed about the requirement for a separate wash hand basin during the previous inspection and in the follow up letter,” says the report.

5: In the room where the out of school club is operated from there is only one sink. Currently this sink is used for 4 different purposes: 1. Children’s hand washing; 2. Food handlers hand washing; 3. Washing up of food equipment, cutlery, plates, etc and 4. Washing of salad items such as cucumber.

“This current poses a serious risk of cross contamination and must cease as a matter of urgency,” said inspectors.

“Separate facilities must be provided for children’s hand washing, staff hand washing and the washing up of equipment.”

The club was told: “Your business has been rated 20 for confidence in management/control procedures.

“The confidence in management score is based mainly on your food safety management system and food handler’s training, supervision, and instruction.

“Furthermore, the confidence in management score is also based on whether the hazards have been identified and appropriate controls are in place.

“In my opinion the significant hazards associated with your operation have not been fully understood and controls were not in place at the time of the inspection.

“Significant improvements in food safety procedures and implementation of controls are required.

“A score of 20 for confidence in management/control procedures has reduced your hygiene rating to a 1.”

The report noted that the out of school club moved rooms in 2022 and as a result of this move the provision of food preparation and sink facilities completely changed.

“This would constitute a significant change and therefore we should have been notified,” says the report.

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The report also found that “due to the observations made at the time of the inspection and detailed throughout this letter, it was apparent that food handlers had not being suitably instructed and/or were not being adequately supervised.

“You must ensure that all food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters to a level appropriate to their work activity.”

East Cambs Council has provided the out of school club with a detailed of recommendations to ensure compliance with food safety and health regulations.