Display of food hygiene ratings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2017 wave of research)

The research assessed the proportion of food businesses displaying food hygiene ratings by using mystery shopping audits.  A telephone survey was also conducted with a sample of food businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to explore business attitudes towards the scheme and specifically, in Wales and Northern Ireland, to determine the impact of compulsory display. 

Background

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) was launched in 2010 and is run in partnership between us and local authorities.  The scheme helps consumers make informed decisions about where to eat or shop for food by providing information about hygiene standards found in businesses at the time of routine inspections by local authorities. The scheme covers businesses supplying or serving food directly to consumers, such as restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways and hotels, as well as supermarkets and other food shops. 

Businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland are legally required to display their ratings in a prominent place, such as the front door, entrance or window of the premises. Display became mandatory in Wales in November 2013 and in Northern Ireland in October 2016. In England businesses are encouraged but not required by law to display their rating. 
 

Research Approach

The display audit set out to determine how many food businesses with a food hygiene rating were displaying this at their premises and where the rating was displayed.  Auditors visited a representative mix of 500 establishments in each of the three countries. 

The research also sought to assess how display rates have changed over time compared with previous audits and the impact of compulsory display of ratings in Wales and Northern Ireland.

The business telephone survey sought to find out:

• Awareness of the FHRS scheme and the legal requirements in Wales and Northern Ireland
• Drivers of display and non-display in England and perceived impacts of display
• Awareness and use of safeguards
• Attitudes towards compulsory display

The total number of establishments surveyed in each country was:

• England: 504 (202 had been audited through the mystery shopping exercise)
• Northern Ireland: 501 (207 had been audited through the mystery shopping exercise)
• Wales: 506 (233 had been audited through the mystery shopping exercise)

Results

 
Display Rates

England continues to lag behind Wales and Northern Ireland in terms of display rates, Compulsory display would likely have a big impact upon display rates in England, as seen in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Rates of display of stickers visible from outside the premises were:

• 49% in England 
• 84% in Wales
• 82% in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of establishments that are displaying their rating so that is visible from the outside (82% compared to 48% in 2016).  In Wales, there has also been a significant increase in outside display of ratings (84% compared to 68% in 2016).

In England, businesses with a higher rating continue to be more likely to display than those with a lower rating. Over two-thirds (67%) of those with a rating of 5 are displaying their rating compared to 28% of those that have a rating of 0-3. These proportions are in line with those seen in 2016.

Motivations to display

Around a third of establishments in each country say that displaying their rating has had a positive impact upon their business (31% in England, 39% in Northern Ireland and 35% in Wales).  

Customer assurance (53%) continues to be the main motivation for display in England followed by being proud of their rating (36%).  

The majority of establishments that receive a rating of 4 or below continue to take action to improve their rating (86% in England, 81% in Wales and 80% in Northern Ireland).
 

Mandatory display

The vast majority of businesses (95% in Northern Ireland and 98% in Wales) are aware that display is mandatory. Most are positive about the scheme, with 80% in Wales and 79% in Northern Ireland saying it is a good idea or they understand why it is necessary.

In England, business attitudes towards compulsory display are also positive, with over three-quarters (77%) saying the introduction of compulsory display would be a good thing.