BBPA claims food hygiene scheme is misleading

A petition has been presented to Parliament attacking a potential law forcing London pubs to display a food hygiene rating.

The controversial Scores on the Doors scheme is included in the London Local Authorities Bill, currently passing through Parliament.

If the Bill becomes law, all pubs would be issued with a certificate and window sticker displaying a rating from zero to five stars, based on the most recent food hygiene inspection report.

But the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is opposed to the measure and presented a petition to the House of Lords against the Bill.

In its submission, the BBPA says the law would "place a significant and unnecessary burden" on food businesses, including pubs.

It argues that customers would be misled by the system and consider the rating "an indication of quality" as opposed to legal compliance.

The scheme, co-ordinated by the Food Standards Agency, is already operating as a pilot project among 28 London councils. But the BBPA also raises concerns about the "lack of comparability" between councils' schemes.

The group has also questioned the lack of review of the scores once they have been awarded.

Last year the British Hospitality Association said it was "disappointed" that the FSA had rolled out the pilot scheme across London while it was still reviewing the impact of existing schemes.

Scores on the Doors schemes have also been introduced by a number of local authorities elsewhere the UK, further adding to concerns that criteria are being applied inconsistently.