An investigation into businesses showing incorrect food hygiene ratings in England has renewed calls for mandatory display. The BBC visited dozens of establishments in east London and found businesses ranging from small local restaurants to the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s misleading customers with inaccurate Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) scores. The investigation revealed that, as of September 2024, the London borough of Waltham Forest had the highest percentage of establishments in England and Wales rated zero to two stars on the food hygiene scale.
As part of FHRS, outlets are given a score from 0 to 5, with 5 indicating ‘very good’ food hygiene and 0 meaning ‘urgent improvement necessary’. Case for mandatory display The latest Food Standards Agency (FSA) data shows that in England, just over two-thirds of 485 businesses audited displayed a food hygiene rating sticker. More than four in five businesses in England agreed that introducing a legal requirement to display their food hygiene rating sticker was a good idea.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) said mandating the display of food hygiene ratings in England would help improve standards and increase compliance with food hygiene laws. CIEH said England lacks a clear opportunity to secure consumer confidence and further protect public health. Chris Elliott, vice president at CIEH, said: “Food hygiene rating schemes provide consumers with information about the hygiene standards at food.
