Food businesses urged by council to post hygiene ratings on websites

Cheshire East Council is urging all businesses in the borough dealing with food for the public, to post their hygiene ratings on their websites and social media channels.

According to a survey, in England, only 10 per cent or fewer food businesses display their food hygiene rating on their websites, or social media channels. This is especially true of those that have online ordering capability. The worst are in Wales, where only five per cent display this information online.

The council is helping to promote a new campaign by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which launched in September, across the country. Food retailers and producers could do more to broadcast their high standards because so many score well on the ratings matrix.

Across the three nations – England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – nine out of ten businesses have a four or five-star rating but although many promote their business online, and in many cases offer online ordering, they do not inform customers digitally that their hygiene ratings are so good.

Food handlers can now download an image of their hygiene rating and post it on their website, or other social media platforms. There is also a code they can embed into their social media channels which can be automatically updated.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of the council’s environment and communities committee, said:

“The council is supporting this campaign by the FSA because we would like our food producers and retailers to take full advantage of the excellent hygiene ratings they have been given.

“Cheshire East has a large number of food retailers, including pubs and restaurants, and the food hygiene standard scores the council issues are not just a reflection of the quality of the outlet itself but also reflect the hard work of our team who carry out the rigorous inspections required, to ensure the borough’s food outlets meet the high standards we want to see. 

“This sends out a message to our residents and visitors that we take this work very seriously and want to ensure that food hygiene standards are met for the safety and benefit of customers.”

Ensuring that the borough’s food handlers operate to the best possible standards is a partnership approach between the council’s commercial services team and the businesses themselves, with proprietors usually receptive to the helpful advice and guidance given by the council.

However, the team has extensive powers where food hygiene inspections are concerned. Their primary purpose is three-fold:

• Food preparation – safety, delivery, storage cross contamination risk, cleanliness, cooking;
• Structure – Safety of kitchen, cleanliness, hot water, suitable toilets, pest control; and
• Management – confidence, paperwork, checks and procedures and management demeanour. 

It’s hoped this campaign will further spread the message through digital media platforms, that the borough’s food outlets and producers attach the highest importance to quality and hygiene.

For information about how to download hygiene scores, visit: 

Food hygiene rating publication and displaying your rating (Food Standards Agency) 

For detailed information about downloadable ratings for digital use visit: 

www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-hygiene-rating-publication-and-displaying-your-rating

To find out about FSA food hygiene ratings in Cheshire East, visit: 

Food Hygiene Rating (cheshireeast.gov.uk)