National scoring scheme set for food hygiene

The hygiene rating of food businesses around the country will be made public later thius year following the launch of a new national scoring scheme, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced.

The FSA Board approved the new six-tier 'scores on the doors' scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland late last year, which allocates  star ratings from zero to five, listed on a single website.

The hygiene rating scheme will have six levels representing the different standards of food hygiene found by local authority officials when they undertake a hygiene inspection.  The scope of the scheme will cover all businesses that supply food direct to consumers, including supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and takeaways. The aim is that all ratings will be prominently displayed at the business premises.

The move is in response to make food suppliers more accountable following South Wales’ E.coli O157 outbreak in 2005, which resulted in over 150 people becoming ill after eating meat contaminated with the bacteria and the death of a five-year-old child.

Currently, over 200 local authorities across the UK have scores on the doors schemes in place.

“While there are a number of local pilot schemes, we are working closely with local authorities to create a nationally consistent approach,” an FSA spokesperson said.

The new national scheme for scoring food businesses is set to launch this year following consultation with local authorities. A UK steering group has been set up to manage the migration towards the national scheme.

For more information please visit: http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/hyg/scoresonthedoors/