THE publication of a star-rated guide to Oxfordshire’s kitchens is sure to raise a few eyebrows... especially if you eat at some of the places where food is prepared.

For the first time, the public is able to see what rating an establishment offering food for sale has been given by environmental health officers.

Each venue is ranked between zero and five stars and the results are available to view at scoresonthedoors.org.uk In Oxford, there are 22 restaurants with a no-star rating, but only one has been shut down by environmental health — Oisi Master, a sushi restaurant in St Clement’s.

Inevitably there will be establish- ments that take exception to their rating and plan to challenge it.

However, it is right and proper the paying public has the opportunity to see what environmental health officers made of areas where food is prepared.

Heaven knows what happens behind the kitchen door at some —but not all — restaurants.

Making information available to the public — even unpalatable information — is the cornerstone of any democratic society.

Those that seek to suppress the release of that information invariably have something to hide.