British Hospitality Association cautiously welcomes national food hygiene rating scheme

8th June 2010, 10:14am

The British Hospitality Association has cautiously welcomed the results of the consumer research for the national food hygiene rating scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - Scores on the Doors.

The research showed that many consumers were concerned that a six-tier scheme would be too complicated, a position which has been long held by the BHA. However, although the six-tier scheme will go ahead, the association welcomes the introduction of a national scheme which every local authority will be expected to follow.
"A scheme in which some local authorities introduced their own standards, sometimes 'gold plating' the law, was clearly undesirable," says John Dyson, the BHA's food and technical adviser. "A national scheme will ensure that there are uniform standards throughout the country."

He said that the BHA still believed that six tiers, with the top three ranging from fully compliant to broadly compliant, was far more complicated than the Scottish two-tier scheme of 'pass' and 'fail'.

"But we welcome the decision not to award stars to each rating, which was another of our principal concerns. We are pleased our view prevailed. Stars would have been confusing to the public and could have implied that they related to the standard of food. It is far more satisfactory to have a simple numerical scale and descriptors such as 'satisfactory or 'very good'

Mr Dyson said that other BHA concerns had also been addressed, including the ability of operators to appeal against a rating decision and to ask for a revisit.

"The fact the FSA is to offer guidance to local authorities in implementing the scheme is a very welcome move. What is needed in this area is consistency."

Related Articles:

• 25 Jan 2010 - Food Standards Agency launching food safety tools
• 21 Dec 2009 - Score on the doors issue resources for local authorities
• 30 Jul 2009 - Scores on the Doors delay welcomed
• 18 Jun 2009 - Food outlets get hygiene star ratings
• 19 Dec 2008 - Caution urged over Scores on the Doors
• 12 Dec 2008 - Scores on the doors scheme approved
• 21 Aug 2008 - Decision delayed on Scores on the Doors
• 06 Jun 2008 - Quarter of Manchester's caterers are unhygienic

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