Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Audit of Display and Business Survey 2021
Executive Summary
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is designed to help consumers make more considered choices about where they eat out or shop for food by providing ‘at-a-glance’ information about the hygiene standards of food businesses found at the time of their last inspection by a local authority’s food safety officer.
Introduction
Under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), places where food is supplied, sold or consumed are given a rating ranging from 0 to 5, with 5 indicating ‘very good’ food hygiene and 0 indicating ‘urgent improvement necessary’. In Northern Ireland and Wales, businesses are legally required to display their food hygiene rating sticker in a prominent place like the front door, entrance or window of the business. Businesses in England do not have to display their rating at their premises but are encouraged to do so. Across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, food hygiene ratings are also available to search on the FSA website.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has conducted research into the Display of Food Hygiene Ratings in England, Northern Ireland and Wales since 2011, although the research was paused in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the FSA commissioned IFF Research to update the research with the following aims:
- Provide a representative estimate of the display of food hygiene ratings by food businesses
- Explore the reasons and drivers for display and non-display
- Explore business awareness and attitudes towards the scheme
Fieldwork in November and December 2021 comprised 1,522 covert audits of food businesses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and 1,500 telephone interviews of food businesses.
Audit results
In England, almost two-thirds (64%) of businesses were displaying a food hygiene rating, either inside or in a location visible from outside their premises. Although not significantly higher than 2019 (61%), there has been a gradual upward trend in the number of businesses in England displaying a food hygiene rating over the past four years, up from 55% in 2017. There has also been an upward trend in the proportion of businesses displaying the sticker so that it is visible from the outside of their premises (59% in 2021 against 55% in 2019 and 52% in 2018).
In Northern Ireland and Wales, where it is mandatory for businesses to display their food hygiene rating, the vast majority of businesses had their rating on display either inside or in a location visible from outside the premises (Northern Ireland 84%, Wales 85%).(footnote)
In Northern Ireland, the proportion displaying a food hygiene rating has been consistent over the longer-term and the 2021 result is in line with 2017, which was the first audit after it became mandatory to display the rating. However, there was a slight fall in 2021 from the peak display rate recorded in 2019, down by 5 percentage points from 89% to 84%. Alongside this there has been a fall in the proportion of businesses displaying the food hygiene rating so that it is visible from outside (down from 87% in 2019 to 77% in 2021).
In Wales, the vast majority (85%) of businesses had their correct statutory FHRS sticker with the dragon logo on display, with a further 2% displaying a FHRS sticker without a dragon. The proportion displaying the correct sticker was lower than in 2019 (down from 91%). There was also a fall in the proportion displaying the statutory sticker in a location visible from outside their premises (82%, down from 89% in 2019).
The reduction in the proportion of Northern Irish and Welsh businesses displaying an FHRS sticker in a location visible from outside their premises should be considered in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Local Authorities were required to defer the routine inspection of many food businesses and focus resource on the most high-risk establishments. Consequently, there was less opportunity for inspectors to observe non-compliant behaviour and prompt businesses to correct this. There was also considerable upheaval in the food industry during the pandemic, with many businesses temporarily closing and changing management and/or ownership.
Despite the dips in the proportion of Northern Irish and Welsh businesses displaying an FHRS sticker in a location visible from outside their premises, levels remain high compared to English businesses. This suggests that if mandatory display in a location visible from outside premises was introduced in England it would increase the rate of display.
In both Northern Ireland and Wales, takeaways and sandwich shops were more likely to have their rating on display than accommodation businesses, pubs, bars and nightclubs. In Northern Ireland, it was particularly accommodation businesses, pubs, bars and nightclubs where rates of display were lower than in 2019. In Wales, the decline in display rates of the statutory sticker were also driven by this outlet type, along with restaurants and cafes.
As a new measure introduced in 2021, a check was made on whether the business had their food hygiene rating displayed on their website. A substantial proportion of businesses did not have a website (41% in England, 50% in Northern Ireland and 40% in Wales). Of those with a website, only a small number of businesses had their rating displayed on it; Wales 11%, Northern Ireland 8%, England 5%. Self-reported display of food hygiene ratings on websites was notably higher than was found during audits (England: 12%; Northern Ireland: 15%; Wales 15%).
Awareness of the scheme and satisfaction with ratings
As found in previous years, nearly all food businesses interviewed had heard of the FHRS (Northern Ireland 95%, Wales 92%, England 92%). Awareness of FHRS was slightly lower for businesses in Wales compared to 2019 (down 5 percentage points) but after further prompting, and with a reference to the distinctive ‘green and black’ sticker that displays the rating, 96% of food businesses in Wales did recall being given a food hygiene rating.
In line with 2019, the vast majority of businesses were satisfied with their food hygiene rating (Northern Ireland 92%, England 89%, Wales 88%). Those with a higher rating showed higher satisfaction levels, but otherwise satisfaction levels were similar across outlet types, except for lower satisfaction amongst takeaway businesses in England (80%) and Northern Ireland (82%). This may, in part, be linked to takeaway businesses as a whole having lower food hygiene ratings.
As few businesses were dissatisfied, it is not possible to confidently report on what was driving this dissatisfaction. But indicatively the reasons reported by businesses that were dissatisfied were that they were expecting a higher rating than they were given, a sense that the rating was not fair, and situations where the inspection was conducted at an inconvenient time.
Most food businesses felt that the lowest food hygiene rating they would be satisfied with would be a 5 (England 55%, Northern Ireland 57%, Wales 52%). However, many businesses felt a 4 out of 5 would be ‘good enough’ for them to display (England 46%; Northern Ireland 48%; Wales 43%).
FHRS sticker receipt and display
Most surveyed food businesses were aware that they had been given a food hygiene rating and most of these said they displayed their FHRS sticker in a place clearly visible to customers. The proportion who said they displayed their FHRS sticker in a visible place was higher for businesses in Northern Ireland (99%) and Wales (97%) compared to England (86%), where it is not a legal requirement to display the FHRS sticker. Although the proportion was lower for England, this did represent a recovery from 2019 when only 80% of businesses claimed they had their FHRS sticker on display.
The vast majority of businesses who displayed their food hygiene rating said that the customer could clearly see the FHRS sticker from the outside of their premises (Wales 97%, Northern Ireland 94%, England 91%). Nearly all businesses in Northern Ireland and Wales said that the sticker was in all or some of their entrances (88% said it was in their entrance or all their entrances, 10% said it was in some). Accommodation businesses and pubs, bars and nightclubs were slightly less likely to display their sticker at every customer entrance, whereas retail businesses were more likely to do so.
Businesses in England who did not display their FHRS sticker or who did not display it in a visible place for customers gave a range of reasons why this was the case. The most common reasons given was that similar businesses were not displaying their sticker and that it was not a legal requirement. Other reasons included not having anywhere suitable to show it outdoors and the sticker not suiting the surroundings or premises. Some mentioned a dislike of the food hygiene rating scheme, and a number said they had never received their sticker or had subsequently lost the sticker.
Although a low food hygiene rating was seldom cited as the reason for not displaying their FHRS sticker, having a better rating was the top answer from businesses in England as to what would encourage them to start displaying their rating. A similar proportion said that nothing would encourage them, but others mentioned that they would display their rating if the lost sticker was re-issued, if it was mandated by law, and if it could be issued in a different format (e.g., a different design, in a frame). Some said that they had just not got around to it or were in the process of renovations.
Mandatory display
As found in previous years, awareness that it is a legal requirement to display their food hygiene rating sticker at their premises in Northern Ireland and Wales was extremely high, with 96% of businesses in each aware of this requirement. Furthermore, there is strong support for compulsory display with around nine in ten businesses in Northern Ireland and Wales saying that the legal requirement to display the rating is a good thing (91% and 92% respectively).
Support is almost as high in England with 85% of businesses believing it would be a good thing. This marks a higher level of support amongst businesses in England than seen in previous years (79% in 2019 . Businesses in England who supported mandatory display thought it would encourage trust or confidence amongst customers and would show that the business cares.
Across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the majority of businesses felt that the display of food hygiene ratings should become mandatory for at least some online platforms (England: 91%; Northern Ireland: 93%; Wales: 94%), with around a fifth holding the opinion that food businesses should be required by law to display their rating on all online platforms used (England: 17%; Northern Ireland: 19%; Wales: 19%).
The top two most common types of online platforms where mandatory online display was felt to be required were the own online ordering facilities of restaurants and takeaways (England: 68%; Northern Ireland: 69%; Wales: 70%) and takeaway aggregators or apps (England: 66%; Northern Ireland: 68%; Wales: 70%). Fewer than half of food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales felt that food businesses should be required to publicise their food hygiene rating on their social media accounts (England: 43%; Northern Ireland: 46%; Wales: 48%).
Awareness and ease of use of safeguards
Although over three-quarters of businesses in each country recalled receiving their inspection letter (Northern Ireland 87%, Wales 82%, England 77%), there has been a fall in recollection over recent years (Wales down 11 percentage points since 2018, England down 7 percentage points and Northern Ireland down 5 percentage points). The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in deferred inspections and some businesses closing during lockdowns which has undoubtably played a part in this.
Most of those with a food hygiene rating of less than 5 and who recalled the inspection letter knew that it had included some advice on how to improve their rating (England 89%, Wales 85%, Northern Ireland 83%), with this generally at a similar level to that recorded for previous years for all three countries.
Most food businesses were also aware that if they were unhappy with their rating they could request a re-rating, appeal the rating or that they had a right to reply. The ability to request a re-rating just topped the list in terms of being the best-known option (Wales 91%, Northern Ireland 88%, England 80%). Businesses in England generally had the lowest awareness levels for all three options, particularly those in retail.
Despite high awareness of the option to request a re-rating or to exercise a right to reply, few businesses had taken either of these courses of actions (only around 1 in 20 businesses in each country, with this looking similar to the situation in 2019). That said, there were a couple of notable exceptions with 16% of takeaway businesses in England aware of the right to reply exercising this right, and 10% of accommodation businesses, pubs, bars and nightclubs in Northern Ireland aware of the option to request a re-rating doing so.
Applying for a re-rating
When asked why they had not applied for a re-rating despite being dissatisfied with their food hygiene rating, the main reasons were that they had not made all of the changes suggested, the process coincided with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fees were too high and that they had other competing priorities in their business. (footnote)
Of those who had applied for a re-rating, around a quarter were awarded with a higher rating, with the findings suggesting this was more likely to be the case in Wales (12 out of the 24 businesses answering this question).
Exercising right to reply
As with re-rating, a range of reasons was given by businesses for not exercising their right to reply. However, the most common ones were the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that they had applied for a re-rating instead and because they did not think it was necessary.
Impacts of the scheme
Perceived value
Overall, it is clear that most businesses are incentivised to maintain or improve their food hygiene rating and consider that the display of their rating has a range of positive impacts on consumer perceptions of the business. Across each country, practically all businesses that displayed their FHRS rating agreed with the statements ‘I/we work hard to maintain/improve our hygiene rating’ (England: 99%; Northern Ireland: 99%; Wales 98%) and ‘displaying my food hygiene rating shows customers that we take food hygiene seriously’ (England: 98%; Northern Ireland: 97%; Wales 97%).
Agreement was also relatively high for the perceived impact the food hygiene rating has on the businesses’ competitive advantage and levels of custom. Roughly eight in ten in each country agreed with the statement ‘having a higher rating gives me a competitive advantage over other businesses that have lower ratings’ (England: 83%; Northern Ireland: 80%; Wales 81%), and just under seven in ten agreed with the statement ‘displaying my food hygiene rating gives my business more customers’ (England: 69%; Northern Ireland: 68%; Wales 66%).
Changes made by business to improve hygiene standards
Across all three nations, most food businesses that had received a rating of 4 or less reported making changes in an attempt to improve their rating (England 87%, Wales 82%, Northern Ireland 78%). Purchasing additional equipment and undertaking repairs was the most common change made (as found in previous survey waves), with this being consistent across countries (England: 44%; Northern Ireland: 41%; Wales 35%). Thereafter the second most common change was improving documentation and recording keeping (England: 29%; Northern Ireland: 18%; Wales 33%), with more businesses in England and Wales taking this action compared to 2019 (29% vs 11%).
