Smileys for inspections at catering businesses: A clean smile at O.P.A.L. Catering
01.07.2013
The site of the former Allessa chemical company on Kettelerstrasse is still guarded by conscientious gatekeepers. However, it is not only the stored raw materials that are closely monitored, but also the catering company O. P. A. L. based there - by the city's Veterinary and Consumer Protection Office. Because the company, which delivers 2,500 meals a day to schools and kindergartens in the Rhine-Main region, scored "very good" in all test points during the last unannounced inspections, it was the first caterer to receive the Offenbach Gastronomy Smiley yesterday. "We are delighted with the award," emphasize company owners Felicitas Friedmann and Hans-Peter Leva, "the smiley is very attractive for advertising campaigns."
Smiley for good to very good controls
The controversial emblem among Offenbach restaurateurs, which is now also emblazoned on the entrance door of O.P.A.L., is intended to signal to restaurant guests and customers: "Everything is in perfect order here, both in terms of hygiene and compliance with food regulations."
After public negative lists of problematic establishments were banned by the courts and a nationwide hygiene traffic light system failed last year due to disagreement between the federal states, the head of the veterinary office, Karin Haßinger, is expanding Offenbach's positive rating system together with the politically responsible department head Peter Schneider (Greens). This year, for the first time, not only restaurants, but also food producers (such as cheese producers and milk processors) and catering businesses can apply for the smiley if their inspections have gone well to very well.
"This will be followed next year by a second extension to larger facilities such as hospital or retirement home kitchens and food retail businesses," announces Haßinger. Last but not least, snack bars are to follow in 2015.
Smiley has lived a shadowy existence so far
Introduced a good two years ago, the smiley has so far led a shadowy existence. Only eight Offenbach restaurants have it smiling at guests at the entrance. Many restaurant operators have refrained from applying for a smiley in the past. They criticize the lack of transparency for customers, fear distortion of competition or simply see no advantages for their business in the rating system.