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You Can’t Hide From Your Online Food Hygiene Rating
There currently isn’t a requirement to display your food hygiene rating in England and Scotland. However, consumers can easily find your online food hygiene rating. The industry is more transparent than ever when it comes to food hygiene ratings. This means it’s impossible to hide your score on the door. Displaying Your Food Hygiene Rating In The UK The UK is currently split when it comes to our food hygiene ratings. For Wales or Northern Ireland it’s mandatory that you display your food hygiene rating in your premises. However, if you’re based in England or Scotland there is no legal obligation for you to display your rating.
This disparity throughout the UK can seem confusing. It would make more sense for food businesses throughout the UK to have to mandatory display their food hygiene rating. There are indeed calls throughout the country for this to happen. Consumers are more aware of food hygiene ratings thanks to new industry standards, news headlines and social media. Consumers want and deserve to know that the place they choose to eat has high levels of food safety.
You Can’t Hide From Your Online Food Hygiene Rating You can hide from your in-store food hygiene rating, but you can’t hide from your online food hygiene rating. The internet provides a wealth of opportunities for your consumers to find out more about your food hygiene levels.
The Food Standards Agency have a dedicated section on their website where consumers can search the food hygiene rating of every business in the UK. Simply enter a location or restaurant and you’re presented with the food hygiene rating as well as inspection date. All useful information when wanting to make an informed decision of where to eat.
Food delivery companies, such as Just Eat, see the value in making food hygiene ratings mandatory on their website. Just Eat were the first food delivery platform to enforce mandatory display of food hygiene ratings on their website. This positive move increases transparency between the restaurant, Just Eat and end consumer. It can also lead to restaurants taking their food safety responsibilities more seriously. If a restaurant has a food hygiene rating of 2 or below then they can’t vendor on Just Eat. Which for many businesses will result in a significant loss in sales.
News travels fast online Food safety scandals are reported faster than ever thanks to social media and news outlets. Regardless of the severity of the food safety issue, we’re instantly made aware of poor food hygiene standards. Complaining online is easy and instant. Quite often, the general public know about the issue before the business knows themself! Negative food safety experiences are unpleasant for everyone involved. Adopt a proactive approach to your food safety and you’re one step closer to a efficient food safety.
If a consumer wants to find your food hygiene rating…they will If you decide not to display your food hygiene rating, consumers will be more determined than ever to find out your rating. It’s becoming second nature for consumers to research food hygiene ratings before eating out. It’s therefore vital that you strive for a food hygiene rating that you are proud to display.
The process of obtaining a high score can seem daunting with technical terminology, lengthy logging and strict procedures to follow. However, when you use a third party company like ourselves there is nothing daunting about it! We’re here to work alongside you to achieve a food hygiene rating you won’t be ashamed to own.
Ensuring your business has a documented and bespoke food safety management system is a great place to start. It will help you follow stringent food safety procedures. At STS we tailor our food safety management systems to the individual needs of your business. No more trying to fit round pegs into square holes; something which EHO’s do pick up on.
Get in touch with our team today to start improving your food hygiene ratings. Call us on 08450 50 40 60 or email [email protected]
