Cookstown eateries must now have food hygiene rating on show

Up until last week (October 7), Mid Ulster District Council - which oversees the system in this area - said it was not mandatory for firms to show the ‘score on the door’.

But since Friday, food suppliers are required by law to show their Food Standards Agency stickers.

While this is good news for the hundreds of 4* and 5* rated venues in Mid Ulster, those on 0*, 1*, 2* might not be so happy.

The Cookstown area currently has no 0* or 1* rated businesses, but seven outlets currently hold 2* - meaning improvement is necessary.

These include Gangnam on Westland Road, Home Foods at Union Place, Joseph’s Restaurant Menarys, The Granary on James Street, The Original Golden Bowl on Millburn Street, Union Stores on Union Road and the Xl Stop And Shop on Dungannon Road.

Five star rated business, the Greenvale Hotel, saw its kitchen downgraded to 1* over a technical issue in summer, while McAtamneys Butchers found itself in a similar situation over paper work. Both have now been restored to 5*.

Magherafelt, has two food suppliers on a 2* rating, but four businesses are on 1*.

But the district also boasts a large number of ‘good’ (66) and ‘very good’ (226) eateries.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “I am delighted to see the Food Hygiene Rating Act, which was passed by the assembly in December, coming into operation introducing the requirement for food businesses to display their hygiene ratings.”