Food Hygiene Rating System shortcomings exposed

Although few consumers were aware of the scheme, people who did know about it were influenced on where to eat out. While few operators fully understood the scheme, there was evidence that some had made changes and improved their rating.

The survey commissioned to the Policy Studies Institute by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) also found that local authorities tended to recognise the benefits of a single national scheme and any barriers to adopting the scheme were practical or financial. The British Beer and Pub Association is one organisation against mandatory display.

Local authorities viewed the FHRS as a tool to enhance their enforcement role and believed it would be strengthened if display of ratings by food businesses became mandatory.

The report will evaluate the FHRS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Food Hygiene Information System in Scotland. The evaluation will cover how the schemes are being implemented; whether they are operating as intended; assessing the impact on comsumers, businesses and local authorities; and assessing the impact on business compliance levels and on public health. FSA policy officials were interviewed about early adoption of the scheme while the practical issues in setting up and operating them were explored from the perspective of local authorities.

Findings will be published throughout the project, which began last year and is expected to be completed in mid-2014.