AN Italian restaurant in Reading has reassured customers it does not have any hygiene problems as it hits back at a 'terrible' and 'harsh' food hygiene rating.
San Sicario, of Caversham Road, received a one star rating from the Food Standards Agency in March, which means 'major improvement necessary'.
The Italian restaurant blames "lack of documentation on the day of inspection" for the negative rating.
Commenting on the 'harsh score', San Sicario said: "We would like to point out that on the day of the inspection, and every day since we have opened our restaurant, that in our kitchen we have never had, and we don’t have, any hygiene problems.
"The cleanliness of the kitchen, fridges, equipment etc. etc, and the way we operate is much, more than satisfactory. We are happy for any customers to view our kitchen any time of the day and see for yourselves."
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The restaurant added: "Unfortunately, on the day, we didn’t have the documentation in place on how we were using the Vacuum Pack machine.
"There is a dispute on one item that is partially cooked and needs to be cooked again before being served. This item is put in a bag and sealed not vacuumed using the vacuum pack machine.
"Using the sealed option, the machine is for raw food only, and in the opinion of the inspector this procedure, could be dangerous to the public, although this item before being served is put into the oven and it will reach a temperature of 80c for more than 5 minutes.
"Also, we didn’t have the document in place to confirm that the procedure we were adopting on Sous Vide cooking was safe for the customer. These 2 missing documents have contributed enormously on the terrible score rating.
"In our opinion a very, very unjust and harsh score, but this is the law and we must conform."
In response to the one star rating, the restaurant said the "problems were solved on the same day, but it now must wait three months for a new assessment".
To reassure customers, San Sicario has said that various controls and practices were in place at the time of inspection including opening closing time check list; kitchen daily, weekly, monthly cleaning schedule; rule of conduct for allergies; cooked food temperature control; fridge temperature control; daily, weekly, monthly cleaning schedule; delivery check; supplier, invoice number, temperature taken on chilled and frozen food; and pest control.
Posting a comment on the Food Standards Agency website, San Sicario explained food preparation in the restaurant: "We have 3 cooking preparation areas. A ready to eat serving area, where we plate up ready to eat food, Parma Ham, Salami, Coppa, Mozzarella etc.
"Cooking area. And a Pizza making area. Each area has its own individual cooking and serving tools.
"Cooking temperatures of pre-cooked food are logged in a book with the ingredients used.
"All the individual ingredients that are used in any dish made before service, including desserts, are listed in a book.
"In our menu there are only a few items that we cook before service: Tomato Sauce and Beef Ragu, Duck Ragu. These sauces are cooked for 3- 4 hours at a temperature well above 75c.
"All other food is cooked to order and the temperature is checked before serving to be above 75c unless it is a steak, where the core temperature changes from rare to well done.
"When we need to use the sink for washing vegetables or salad, the sink is washed and disinfected before usage."
The statement concludes: "This is us at San Sicario, where food is 100% safe, clean and made with passion".
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