We’re thrilled that Waste Nott has once again achieved a five-star food hygiene rating, following our latest inspection.

The inspector, who arrived unannounced, carried out a thorough review of our premises, paperwork and procedures, examining everything from the condition of our floors, counters and kitchen to documentation and traceability of products. They also asked shop manager Ian about our policies and procedures.

They were clearly impressed by the cleanliness of the shop and by the fact that all our volunteers complete a Level 2 NVQ in food hygiene (something that is not mandatory but Waste Nott insists on.)

Ian, pictured above, says: “The inspector found not a single issue in any of the categories so we got top marks.

“It’s a pat on the back for everyone who works here and a reflection on the clear and rigorous procedures we all follow.  We clean up as we go along, and all volunteers are trained in the importance of this.”

What does the food hygiene inspection involve?

The food hygiene inspection looks at these key categories:

• Compliance in food hygiene and safety procedures. All our volunteers undertake a Level 2 NVQ in Food Hygiene, which, though not a legal requirement for a shop like ours, puts us in the best position to ensure everyone understands and follows procedures. We also use daily checklists which all volunteers follow to ensure consistency.
• Compliance with structural requirements. This involves the physical set-up in the store, so the inspector checks that all surfaces, store cupboards and kitchen areas are clean and that products are correctly stored and sealed.
• Confidence in management and control procedures. This is about how the shop is run, and whether everyone understands their responsibilities. We have a daily checklist which we run through on opening the shop and before closing. We also have procedures we follow throughout the day, and weekly tasks such as cleaning the nut butter machine.
• Product information and traceability: The inspector examines paperwork relating to our products. We were able to show them detailed records of all our products, including details of ingredients, allergens, suppliers and containers.  

Why container traceability matters

We’re sometimes asked why we don’t accept donated containers for re-use in the shop. The answer is simple: traceability. If we can’t verify the source of a container, we can’t guarantee the purity of the product or prevent cross contamination. That’s why, while we encourage customers to bring their own containers to refill, we can’t accept them for use behind the counter as we can’t prove traceability.

Do we have prior warning of the inspection?

Inspections are always unannounced, we never know when they are coming. That’s why we treat every day like inspection day!

What our customers say

And it’s not just the officials who notice our standards of cleanliness, our customers endorse this too.  One recent comment in our visitors’ book says: “This is the tidiest shop I’ve ever seen…” We couldn’t agree more and we’re proud to keep it that way.

Thanks to our amazing team of volunteers and loyal customers for helping us maintain such high standards. Here’s to keeping Waste Nott spotless and sustainable until our next inspection in five years time!