Displaying food hygiene ratings is a must after Brexit, LGA says

All food premises in England should be made to display ’Scores on the Doors’ ratings when EU laws governing food safety are converted after Brexit to improve hygiene standards and protect people, the Local Government Association (LGA) has urged.

Council environmental health teams score food outlets from zero to five based on kitchen cleanliness, cooking methods and food management, among others.

Although businesses in Wales and Northern Island are legally required to display their rating, businesses in England do not have to, with those scoring low marks less likely to put them on display.

The government has set out its intention to convert EU law into UK law when the UK leaves the European Union. With EU laws having an effect on many of the council services that affect day-to-day life, the LGA said councils must play a central role in deciding whether to keep, amend or scrap them.

Local government leaders say current EU laws regulating food safety are good and need to be kept after Brexit, but the LGA wants the government to see Brexit as an opportunity to strengthen these laws and empower councils by legally extending the display of ‘Scores on Doors’ to England. This would improve consumer confidence, raise standards and reduce the need for and cost of enforcement action by councils.

The LGA believes that businesses that fail to comply should be fined or prosecuted.

Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “The conversion of EU law as part of Brexit will impact on many council services that affect people’s day-to-day lives, including how to protect people from being served unsafe food.

“The post-Brexit review of EU laws gives the government choices. We believe that food hygiene laws need to be strengthened, where necessary, with ‘Scores on the Doors’ ratings being a good area of opportunity to do this.

“With mandatory hygiene rating display already in force in Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK leaving the EU provides a crucial opportunity to toughen up food safety laws by extending the legislation to England as well. Food hygiene standards and compliance levels have risen since the scheme was introduced in Wales.

“The lack of a hygiene rating sticker in a business means customers are left in the dark on official kitchen cleanliness levels when eating or buying food there.

“A food hygiene rating distinguishes between appearance and reality. A food outlet may have nice décor but that doesn’t mean that hygiene standards are good enough to avoid being served a ‘dodgy’ burger or salad that could pose a serious risk to someone’s health.

“Councils have seen some shocking examples of poor or dangerous hygiene and always take action to improve standards at rogue food premises.

“Making the display of hygiene ratings compulsory in England is good for business. Not only would it incentivise food outlets to improve or maintain high hygiene standards - which would reduce the risk of illness for customers - it would also improve consumer confidence and save taxpayers’ money by reducing the need for, and cost of, enforcement action by councils.”