allroad
Inactive User
The US has a scorecard system for food safety
Restaurants and cafes may be asked to display graded food-safety certificates under proposals being discussed by UK environmental health officials.
The plans will be put before this week's annual meeting of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Food outlets are inspected by councils but do not have to display the results.
The CIEH is considering pushing for the compulsory displaying of certificates and may call for the introduction of a US-style A to E scorecards system.
CIEH policy officer Jenny Morris said: "Consumer information drives up hygiene standards and there is no reason why it can't be introduced, we are in an era of wider freedom of information after all.
"This type of 'scores on doors' scheme is used widely across the US and a similar scheme has recently been introduced in Toronto, Canada, where it has been warmly welcomed by consumers and regulators.
Choice
"Clearly armed with this basic information, UK consumers would be able to exercise choice about where they eat, based not only on the menu but also on knowing how conscientious the restaurants they choose to frequent are in maintaining good food hygiene."
Any decision by the CIEH, the professional body for environmental health practitioners, would only be voluntary but Ms Morris suggested the law could be changed to force restaurants, pubs, takeaways or cafes to put up the certificates.
We feel people have the right to know the standards of hygiene at places there are going to eat in when choosing somewhere in the borough
Angela Cornforth, Greenwich Council deputy leader
She cited the system used in Denmark, where legislation has been introduced to force catering outlets to display happy or sad faces to indicate the quality of food hygiene.
There is no requirement for catering outlets to display inspection results at the moment although many do put up certificates and awards they have won.
A spokesman for the British Hospitality Association said there was scope for varying standards around the country if the displaying of food safety certificates was implemented by local authorities and that would just create "confusion".
On introducing a grading system, he added: "I think it is such a terrible subject to get involved in as we have seen with hotels. It starts off objective and then becomes subjective.
"I think it would be difficult to introduce."
The issue will be debated at the 'carrot or stick' enforcement session on Thursday at the three-day conference, which starts on Tuesday in Torquay.
Right to know
The debate will hear about a scheme used by Greenwich Council, in London, aimed at giving customers greater access to food safety and hygiene information on the borough's 700 catering establishments.
The results of inspections by the council's environmental health officers are published on the internet and catering outlets are also given a certificate that can be put on display.
Deputy council leader Angela Cornforth said: "We feel people have the right to know the standards of hygiene at places they are going to eat in when choosing somewhere in the borough.
"The scheme allows them to do this and it recognises those caterers who are already maintaining good standards and encourages others to achieve them."
The register, which started in August and covers schools and residential homes as well as high street catering outlets, will take two years to complete.
Restaurants and cafes may be asked to display graded food-safety certificates under proposals being discussed by UK environmental health officials.
The plans will be put before this week's annual meeting of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Food outlets are inspected by councils but do not have to display the results.
The CIEH is considering pushing for the compulsory displaying of certificates and may call for the introduction of a US-style A to E scorecards system.
CIEH policy officer Jenny Morris said: "Consumer information drives up hygiene standards and there is no reason why it can't be introduced, we are in an era of wider freedom of information after all.
"This type of 'scores on doors' scheme is used widely across the US and a similar scheme has recently been introduced in Toronto, Canada, where it has been warmly welcomed by consumers and regulators.
Choice
"Clearly armed with this basic information, UK consumers would be able to exercise choice about where they eat, based not only on the menu but also on knowing how conscientious the restaurants they choose to frequent are in maintaining good food hygiene."
Any decision by the CIEH, the professional body for environmental health practitioners, would only be voluntary but Ms Morris suggested the law could be changed to force restaurants, pubs, takeaways or cafes to put up the certificates.
We feel people have the right to know the standards of hygiene at places there are going to eat in when choosing somewhere in the borough
Angela Cornforth, Greenwich Council deputy leader
She cited the system used in Denmark, where legislation has been introduced to force catering outlets to display happy or sad faces to indicate the quality of food hygiene.
There is no requirement for catering outlets to display inspection results at the moment although many do put up certificates and awards they have won.
A spokesman for the British Hospitality Association said there was scope for varying standards around the country if the displaying of food safety certificates was implemented by local authorities and that would just create "confusion".
On introducing a grading system, he added: "I think it is such a terrible subject to get involved in as we have seen with hotels. It starts off objective and then becomes subjective.
"I think it would be difficult to introduce."
The issue will be debated at the 'carrot or stick' enforcement session on Thursday at the three-day conference, which starts on Tuesday in Torquay.
Right to know
The debate will hear about a scheme used by Greenwich Council, in London, aimed at giving customers greater access to food safety and hygiene information on the borough's 700 catering establishments.
The results of inspections by the council's environmental health officers are published on the internet and catering outlets are also given a certificate that can be put on display.
Deputy council leader Angela Cornforth said: "We feel people have the right to know the standards of hygiene at places they are going to eat in when choosing somewhere in the borough.
"The scheme allows them to do this and it recognises those caterers who are already maintaining good standards and encourages others to achieve them."
The register, which started in August and covers schools and residential homes as well as high street catering outlets, will take two years to complete.
