FSAI mulls food hygiene rating display system

Ireland is to look into creating a hygiene rating scheme for food businesses.

Plans were revealed in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) strategy for 2025 to 2029.

From 2025 to 2027, there will be an evaluation of the evidence relating to hygiene rating schemes for businesses and a recommendation made on their future place in Ireland’s official control system, which may inform policy decisions.

Work will assess the impact of a hygiene rating scheme for food firms and try to reach an agreement on the way forward.

FSAI is in the process of seeking stakeholder input and opinions to inform implementation ahead of potentially launching a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in Ireland.

Initial efforts
Dr. Pamela Byrne, FSAI chief executive, said the agency’s main objective is to protect public health.

“This new five-year strategy will continue to develop a culture of food safety in all food businesses and thereby, improve food safety overall. We will continue to oversee a robust evidence-based regulatory system, which supports the food industry to thrive and develop with food safety at the core of how it operates,” she said.  

The first meeting of the Food Hygiene Rating Systems Subcommittee was held at the end of September. A document which included a literature review was presented at the event, with information on methods used in other countries.

Attendees heard there are challenges to implementing such systems and the subcommittee plans to receive input from a range of experts who have different experiences. The group will meet monthly until May.

The Food Safety Consultative Council is also carrying out work on the industry perspective of a food hygiene rating system.

At the council’s meeting in September, guest speakers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland presented on having an FHRS. This covered consistency of implementation and operation and the impact for food businesses, district councils, and consumers.

Wider picture
Businesses in Northern Ireland are legally required to display their rating at or near each customer entrance. This is optional in England.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has previously called for legislation to mandate the display of FHRS scores, citing their ability to improve compliance with food hygiene laws and bring England in line with Wales and Northern Ireland.

A recent study, published in the British Food Journal, investigated consumer perceptions of food hygiene inspections of restaurants and takeaways in the UK.

An online survey was conducted between March and November with 750 responses. More than 50 percent of participants reported experiencing symptoms of food poisoning at least once within the past five years.

Females, people with food hypersensitivities, those who experienced food poisoning and had reported food safety concerns to local authorities checked hygiene ratings more frequently. Participants who searched for the hygiene rating or information had increased confidence in recent food hygiene inspections. Those who searched for hygiene information also reported paying more attention to food safety since Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Respondents who believed checks occurred more frequently — every 3 to 24 months — or were risk-based showed significantly higher confidence in the local authority food hygiene inspection process.

Researchers said authorities should emphasize the importance of checking hygiene ratings or information before dining out or purchasing takeaways, especially for vulnerable groups.

Although not mandatory, scientists said restaurants and takeaways in England and Scotland could make hygiene ratings more visible and accessible to build public trust and encourage greater consumer engagement with food hygiene information.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/fsai-mulls-food-hygiene-rating-display-system/