A new set of graphics has been published by FSA for food businesses wishing to display their ratings online, together with guidance and how and where they should be displayed

Interesting to see recommendations from the Taipei times for the Government to improve public awareness and incentives for food businesses to comply. The concept of publishing inspection results on-line continues to gain momentum with France being the most notable country to join Australia(NSW), Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, UK, USA [and let us know if we missed any]?

What next – www.scoresonthedoors.tp?

New Triple 5 award. Businesses in Worcestershire are now being recognised by their Local Authorities when they achieve three consecutive top scores. A letter, which can be displayed on the premises, together with a listing on the WRS website and local press coverage will reward businesses for consistency.

The following councils are participating in the new award:

• Bromsgrove District Council
• Malvern Hills District Council
• Redditch Borough Council
• Worcester City Council
• Wychavon District Council 
• Wyre Forest District Council

New food safety documentary on Netflix covering the major food scares in the USA over the last 30 years or so – Poisoned: the dirty truth about your food.

Much of this will be familiar to those who closely follow international food safety headlines – the Jack in the Box E.coli scandal; Camplobacter; Salmonella in chicken; contaminated peanuts etc – but there are some interesting subtleties. Lots of claims about the USA having the safest food system in the world, whilst highlighting inconsistencies in the way they system is set up to regulate that.

If you want to get a comparison of how the US compares to our own practices, this is a good summary.

We analysed the data going back 10 years to evaluate the effect of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme on compliance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As you can see from the attached chart, there has been a steady growth to the point where 76% now achieve FHRS-5. Consumer awareness has never been higher and there is also evidence that the minimum standards many are prepared to accept has steadily increased over the years.

So it’s good news right?

Well yes of course it is good news, but there are still a couple of issues that need addressing:

1. Compulsory display in England still has no legislative timetable.
2. Where do we go from here?

To answer point 1, it seems we will have to wait until sometime in the next parliament before there is any prospect of progressing. Despite 93% of consumers surveyed who had heard of the scheme, saying they would like to see this. Of course, if you live in Wales or Northern Ireland, food businesses have been required to display for years now. Let’s hope whoever wins the election regards this as a higher priority.

As far as the second point is concerned, where do you sit? Is the 2010 criteria good enough? Will we ever get the remaining 24% all the way to FHRS-5, or at what point does this tail off? Should there be additional incentives for the 76% to further improve?

What many may not remember is that the current top FHRS-5 band only kicks-in at the same point as the original Scores on the Doors 4 star rating. Actually, it has 4 sub-grades within it. So in many cases a rating of 5 will still include some minor incompliances. Back in 2010, it was designed like this due our obligations under EC legislation not to Gold plate. But of course we now have the power to increase the top grade which would provide incentives to improve even further. Just like Ofsted did with schools a few years ago.

Is it time to review the grading?

Interested in your comments.

Great article in the Morning Advertiser congratulating JDW once again for their food hygiene standards. Across all 763 pubs the average FHRS score is now 4.99. Truly impressive.

https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2023/06/13/jd-wetherspoon-scores-4.99-out-of-5-for-food-hygiene

Very lively discussion on how the FHRS can be improved yesterday. You can watch the webinar again by clicking on this link.

Highfield are running a free webinar on 31 May – How to improve the food hygiene rating scheme.

This is a great opportunity for industry and regulators to discuss and debate where the flagship scheme has got to after 12 years, and how it needs to develop and evolve. Free registration here.

In case you are every tempted to eat Puffer fish, read on…

10 April 2023 – an elderly couple from Malaysia unknowingly purchased and cooked the highly poisonous pufferfish, which can be deadly if not prepared and cooked properly.

Ng Chuan Sing and his wife Lim Siew Guan, from Malaysia, died hours after tucking into the controversial delicacy, the cooking of which is governed by strict laws in some countries due some parts being highly toxic.

The country’s health department would now be holding talks with the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia, a government agency overseeing seafood supplies in the country, as well as local experts on the matter.

In Japan and Korea, where the fish is also a delicacy, only chefs with at least three years’ experience are legally allowed to prepare the fish due to the levels of tetrodotoxin, attracting many thrill seekers to try it.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/couple-die-just-hours-after-29672891

In the light of the recent Pork fraud issues, Ministers are now considering eclipsing the quasi-independent Food Standards Agency back under the control of a full government department – DEFRA.

Hang on a minute – Can’t anyone remember why the FSA was created in the first place? To separate it from MAFF to ensure independent consumer protection in the light of the 1990’s Mad Cow issues.

Plus ca change….

Link to the Farmers Weekly article here