New research identifies limited display of food hygiene ratings in Wales
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Research published today by the Food Standards Agency shows that in Wales only 6% of food businesses audited with a low rating of 0, 1 or 2 under the Food Hygiene Rating scheme are actually displaying the ratings in their premises, compared with 66% of those businesses which received a rating of 5.
Non display of a rating sticker means consumers are unable to use the sticker to assess the food hygiene standards of the business as they enter the premises. However, where a business has decided to display its rating, then 77% of those were very easy to find when visited by a ‘mystery shopper’.
The research was carried out by GfK NOP for the Agency during September and October 2011 and comprised of two stages – firstly, an audit using the 'mystery shopper' technique and, at the second stage, a telephone survey. A total of 447 food businesses across Wales, which had been given a food hygiene rating by their local authority, were visited and 500 telephone interviews were conducted. Of these interviews, 298 food businesses were both audited and interviewed. Interview objectives included ascertaining reasons for non-display of stickers and motivations to display in the future.
The telephone interview found that of those businesses that were not displaying the rating sticker, 41% would display if they had a better rating and 16% said they would display if it became a mandatory requirement.
Steve Wearne, Director of the Food Standards Agency in Wales, commented, 'Since its launch just over a year ago, the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has increased the availability of information to consumers on the hygiene standards of food businesses when they choose to eat out or shop for food. This research has revealed that even when they have a good rating, not all food businesses in Wales are choosing to display the information. As they enter the business, consumers currently don’t always have the information available to them to make an informed choice.'
The FSA is working with the Welsh Government on making mandatory the display of food hygiene ratings at food businesses in Wales. The consultation can be found at the link below.
Notes to editors:
- Currently over 13,500 food businesses in Wales have been inspected as part of the food law enforcement on hygiene standards, and awarded a rating under the scheme.
- Those that receive a rating other than a 5 will be given advice and guidance by the local authority food safety officer to enable them to make improvements.
- If the officer finds that a business’s hygiene standards are very poor and there is an imminent risk to health – this means food is not safe to eat – the officer must take action to ensure that consumers are protected. This could mean prohibiting part of an operation or closing the business down.
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