Food Hygiene Rating Scheme logo (England and Wales)
Food Hygiene Information Scheme logo (Scotland)

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

In England and Wales, the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme began rolling out in October 2010. The simpler Food Hygiene Information Scheme was adopted in Scotland. The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is designed to replace the various Scores on Doors Schemes that were developed as pilots. All Authorities are to be encouraged to adopt the new scheme. Thus consumers will be able to compare food outlets hygiene ratings throughout England and Wales, under the same scheme.

The report, Common Sense, Common Safety produced by Lord Young of Graffham last October, recommends the FSA's national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme should be mandatory. FSA Policy is moving to encourage full uptake by the 2012 Olympics. With only around 130 councils signed up so far (April 2011) this is looking somewhat optimistic without legislation.

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Basics

All food business operators (FBO) supplying food to the general public will come under the scheme (to begin with very low risk outlets may be excluded).

During routine inspections by Local Authority inspectors FBO’s  will be assessed in three areas:

Food Hygiene rating sticker - 5 Very Good

The combined score from the three areas will result in a rating for the FBO.

  • 5 = very good
  • 4 = good
  • 3 = satisfactory
  • 2 = improvement necessary
  • 1 = major improvement necessary
  • 0 = urgent improvement necessary

FBOs will be urged to stick a notice on their door showing their rating. Logic would suggest that a business receiving a very low rating will be reluctant to display the information.

The rating for individual FBOs will be available on Local Authority Websites.

Food Safety Management Quiz

1. When you have a visit from your Local Authority EHO, do you know exactly what they look at when assessing you?

Yes/No/Not sure

2. Do you know the minimum requirements of the Food Hygiene and Safety rules?

Yes/No/Not sure

3. Are your staff trained?

Yes/No

4. If asked could you show your Inspector proof of training?

Yes/No

Allergies

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced guidance to help food businesses provide information to customers with an allergy (to one of the 14 recognised allergens).
The FSA advises consumers to discuss their food allergy with restaurant staff and, suggestes ‘If you are not sure, it's better to eat somewhere else’. The Agency also produces a chef card for food allergic customers to complete and hand to the waiting staff upon arrival. 

5. If your staff were shown a Chef Card, would they know what to do and say?

Yes/No/Not sure

The Food Safety Hygiene Regulations require you to demonstrate to your inspector that you are complying. Under Scores on the Doors, many businesses failed to achieve the highest rating because they could not demonstrate confidence in management to the inspector.

6. Do you have written procedures and records of food safety checks you make in your business?

Yes/No/Not sure

How did you score?

If you answered Yes to all the questions, well done! If not, it is likely you would not achieve top rating in the new scheme.

Food Solutions Food Safety Management Scheme can help you achieve top rating easily.

Contact john@food-solutions for details of subscription.

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