School offers hygiene course for restaurants

The Asian and Oriental School of Catering (AOSC) has launched a scheme to train more than 200 London kitchens in food and hygiene safety.

The Hoxton-based school has developed the programme to help restaurants, bars and hotels comply with tough European food hygiene standards that come into force in January 2006. All training takes place on site.

The initiative, paid for by the European Social Fund, is currently targeting restaurants in Chinatown and Hackney, but will be rolled out to the rest of the capital over the next few months.

Damien Nolan, director of the AOSC, said: "The project is also important for the long-term commercial catering needs of London. Should the city be successful in winning the Olympic bid, people will need good places to eat in 2012."

Paul Watts, senior environmental health officer at Hackney council, said: "Any business taking part in this project locally, or which makes sure it is doing what it can to improve its food safety, will most definitely have a more positive viewing from us."