Etelä-Häme environmental health carried out more than 300 Oiva inspections last year

The year 2023 was the first operating year of environmental health in Etelä-Häme. The area includes the towns of Riihimäki and Forssa, as well as the municipalities of Janakkala, Tammela, Jokiointe, Hausjärvi Lope, Humppila and Ypäjä.

In this area, there are approximately 850 objects subject to regular food control. The number of Oiva inspections of objects depends on the nature and scope of the activity. For example, 6–8 inspections are carried out a year at the largest plants producing food of animal origin in the region. For lower-risk locations such as restaurants, cafes and shops, the inspection is done every 1–3 years.

Evaluation on a four-point scale

During the Oiva inspection, several different issues are assessed at the destination, the requirements of which come from the European Union and national food legislation. The evaluation scale is the so-called Oivahymy scale, which has four levels: A (perfect), B (good), C (remedial) and D (bad). The overall result of the inspection is determined based on the lowest rating.

In 2023, Etelä-Häme environmental health carried out a total of 324 planned Oiva inspections in the region. In addition, 24 follow-up inspections resulting from the C assessment were carried out.

Most of the inspections had to point out the cleanliness of premises, tools and cleaning equipment, hand hygiene and food temperature control.

Notable for every ten

With the Oiva inspections of grocery apartments, general grades of C were given to a total of 40 inspection items, which is about 11 percent of all Oiva inspections. Most of the C general grades were aimed at catering locations, 27 different destinations. Also, the only overall grade of D, which also led to the closure of the place, was targeted at the restaurant.

All C overall grades improved to an A or B grade at the follow-up inspection.

In the Oiva general grades of the inspections, the share of A and B grades was a total of 89 percent. The distribution of grades in the environmental health area of ​​Etelä-Häme follows the national level.

Oiva reports are available for the customer to view

Information on the results of companies' food supervision can be found in the form of the Oiva report, which is public. The smiley face on the report indicates the result of the inspection. The Oiva report is usually available in the company at the entrance or at the sales counter and on the company's website. You can also search for information on inspection results from the www.oivahymy.fi website, where all Oiva reports from Suomen are published.

The national Oiva evaluation system turned 10 years old in 2023. The goal of Oiva inspections is to bring the inspection results of food inspection to the consumer's use, to unify inspection and to increase the transparency of operators' and authorities' operations.