Help my Food Hygiene Rating is Low

Help my Food Hygiene Rating is Low!

A Low Food Hygiene Rating Score is Bad for Business

A recent Which? Magazine study into food hygiene ratings suggested that when it comes to food hygiene we are living in a postcode lottery. The publication is pushing for mandatory display of the food hygiene rating in England (it is already mandatory in Wales), as outlets with a low score are simply not advertising that, leaving diners in the dark in an attempt to save their businesses. However, anyone with an iphone app can simply point their phone at a premises and find out the rating anyway!

One Birmingham postcode showed a fantastic 4.9 average, whilst others are suffering from average scores as low as 2.6. Bexley’s DA9 postcode was the lowest rated, and there 5 other Bexley postcodes with an average score of under 2.84.

The instant reaction might be to suggest that the Bexley EHO must have been having a bad day compared to the overly generous EHO in Birmingham, but the fact remains that these scores are particularly low, and with the national press starting to raise the profile of this issue, a low score at a restaurant could dramatically reduce business. One food outlet local to Orion EH&S received such bad press in the local papers that it changed its name to avoid diners making the connection.

Indeed in the Which? study 2000 readers were questioned, and said overwhelmingly (95%) that they would not eat in a restaurant rated lower than a three. Diners are known for voting with their feet, and they will quickly start to realise that no score on display simply means a bad score. And with the FSA mobile app referred to above, this means that even without mandatory display of scores, diners are still able to quickly access the information and make a decision that could have a negative impact on your business.

How can we help?
Our clients are routinely scoring 4 and 5 in their food hygiene ratings, but if you are struggling to reach a three or higher, then we can help you with that. No business is too large or too small to be helped by our expert team.

Let us predict your Food Hygiene Rating, and advise on how to improve.
If you don’t have a Food Safety Management System or any Records, you need to act quickly because without these you won’t be able to get a good score. Call us now on 0800 6190 571 or email support@orionsafety.co.uk to book a special rate Food Hygiene Rating Audit where one of our expert auditors will help prepare you for the EHO Food Hygiene Rating visit.