Food hygiene

Not reheating leftovers until steaming hot throughout

It is important to reheat leftover food until it is steaming hot throughout to kill harmful bacteria that may have grown since the food was cooked .

Storing chilled foods at incorrect temperatures

Storing chilled foods at an incorrect temperature is a food safety risk, as it promotes the growth of harmful bacteria.

Not checking use-by dates and consuming foods past the use-by dates

Eating food past the use-by date presents a significant risk of foodborne illnesses to consumers.

Reusing a chopping board after preparing meat, fish and poultry

Local Authority Capacity and Capability research

Evidence from professional bodies, LAs and wider sources suggests that LAs are experiencing significant issues around the recruitment and retention of suitably/ appropriately qualified and experienced officers. The FSA commissioned Ipsos UK to carry out this initial phase of discovery research to understand more about the barriers and facilitators encountered by LAs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Evaluation of the use of remote assessments for FHRS requested re-inspections in England

The study looked to understand experiences of remote assessment, how it was being used, and its benefits and limitations among LAs and food business operators (FBOs). It also looked at barriers and facilitators to remote assessment by LAs.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Audit of Display and Business Survey 2022

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Online Display in Wales: Research report

This report explores consumer expectations around the online display of Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme ratings and intends to inform the development of best practice.

Online display of food hygiene ratings by food businesses in Wales

Report exploring regulators views about proposals to introduce mandatory online display of food hygiene ratings by food businesses in Wales.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Audit of Display and Business Survey 2022: Technical report

Exploring food behaviours in the UK student population: Interim findings

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in association with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), commissioned this research to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of university students relating to food safety and security.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Audit of Display and Business Survey 2021: Technical report

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Audit of Display and Business Survey 2021 Technical report.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Audit of Display and Business Survey 2021

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is designed to help consumers make more considered choices about where they eat out or shop for food by providing ‘at-a-glance’ information about the hygiene standards of food businesses found at the time of their last inspection by a local authority’s food safety officer.

Simulating value creation opportunities for FSA inspection processes using digital twins

This project was developed following a 21st century abattoir review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to explore areas where advanced technologies could augment or enhance the delivery of FSA’s official controls for meat safety, traceability and authenticity.

Consumer Handwashing Tracker

Key findings from April 2020 to January 2022.

Small and Micro Food Business Operator (FBO) Tracking Survey: Wave 3 2021 - Technical Report

Kitchen Life 2: Literature Review

The aim of the Kitchen Life 2 project is to identify the key behaviours relating to food safety that occur in domestic and business kitchens, as well as the factors that may reduce the likelihood to enact recommended food safety and hygiene behaviours. This literature review was commissioned to inform the scope of the Kitchen Life 2 project.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Food and You 2: Wave 2

Research from Food and You 2: Wave 2

Consumer perception of food risk

A survey to explore how consumers perceive food-related risks.

Display of food hygiene ratings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2019 wave of research)

We have commissioned independent research to assess the proportion of food businesses that are displaying their food hygiene ratings since 2011. This report provides the findings from the 2019 wave of research making comparisons to previous years where possible.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – Consumer Attitudes Tracker (Wave 8)

We run an annual consumer attitudes survey on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) to track consumer awareness of the scheme, attitudes towards it and the use of the ratings over time.

Display of food hygiene ratings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2018 wave of research)

We have commissioned independent research to assess the proportion of food businesses that are displaying their food hygiene ratings since 2011. This report provides the findings from the 2018 wave of research making comparisons to previous years where possible.