Thousands of food businesses will have their hygiene ratings made public from 1 October.

Hygiene ratings will be shown on a numeric scale. A rating of five indicates very good food hygiene standards. There is then a sliding scale to a zero rating which indicates that urgent improvement is necessary.

The FSA today published the newly designed branding that intends to make it easy for consumers to understand and use food hygiene ratings. The design is big and bold.

Although the small print provides that the guide is not a guide to food quality, who would want to dine in an establishment where “URGENT IMPROVEMENT IS NECESSARY”? With hygiene ratings often being the subject of intense debate between the local authority and establishment, and the huge potential for the food business to lose considerable business following receipt of a low rating, is it really fair to force this businesses to display this label?

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com