Restaurant hygiene rating planned

Environmental health officers regularly visit premises

A national star rating scheme to rank restaurants on hygiene levels was likely to move a step closer.

The Food Standards Agency was meeting on Wednesday to discuss the plan for a "scores-on-the-doors" scheme.

If adopted, it would allow diners in any food premises, including schools and hospitals, an easy guide to the success of its latest inspection.

But displaying a certificate on the door would be voluntary under the proposals aimed at improving standards.

Pilot schemes

A report to the FSA board, meeting in Edinburgh, reviews a series of pilot projects that have been run in London, the Midlands and Scotland.

It may be increasingly difficult for a business not to display its score without consumers drawing their own conclusions about standards Report to the FSA

Over a hundred local authorities are running schemes grading food premises, usually for cleanliness, the structure of a premises and confidence in the management.

They make no comment on the quality of the food on offer.

Most schemes cover any kitchen subject to food hygiene inspections by environmental health officers, including schools, old people's homes and work canteens as well as restaurants and takeaways.

A council inspects every food outlet in its area, with the frequency dependant on the risk involved, so a caterer serving young children would be inspected more often than a newsagent selling a few sandwiches.

Star gazing

The FSA is also looking at scores on the doors schemes operating overseas, such as the Danish programme that displays inspection results with smiley or frowning faces.

The report recommends that a uniform system be used across England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are working on similar schemes.

More than 100 local authorities have a version of the scheme

It recommends that premises are awarded a three-star rating when hitting a high standard of hygiene, management confidence and structure. A two-star rating shows satisfactory levels and a one-star award means improvements are needed.

A failure would mean minimum hygiene standards had not been met and legal action could be taken.

A food business could appeal against a score or pay for a fresh inspection in the hope of improving enough to be given a better rating.

'Trust the restaurateurs'

The rating would be published on an online database but displaying a certificate with the results would be voluntary for business owners.

But the report added: "It may be increasingly difficult for a business not to display its score without consumers drawing their own conclusions about standards."

Miles Quest, of the British Hospitality Association, said the system was unfair and restaurateurs should be trusted.

Food premises should be completely clean or shut down, he said, which took away the need for a grading system.

He added that a easily cured and minor misdemeanour would brand a kitchen as dirty until the next inspection which could be up to two years later.

The report to the FSA recommends a period of consultation before confirmation of the final national scheme in the autumn.