The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reported an encouraging rise in the number of food businesses in England voluntarily displaying their Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) stickers, with 72% of outlets showcasing their ratings—the highest rate since tracking began in 2011.
The upward trend was revealed through a telephone survey of 1,349 businesses and a physical and online audit of 1,348 outlets conducted between October and December 2024. While the numbers mark progress from 69% in 2023, the FSA noted a discrepancy between self-reported data and actual display—with 86% claiming to display their rating, but only 72% verified during the audit.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, where displaying food hygiene ratings is mandatory, compliance remains high. 94% of businesses in Wales and 90% in Northern Ireland visibly displayed their FHRS sticker. In comparison, England, where display remains voluntary, continues to lag behind.
Ratings are assigned on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 being “very good” and 0 indicating “urgent improvement necessary.” While 80% of businesses with a top score of 5 showcased their rating, only 38% of those rated 3, and just 6 out of 20 businesses with a score of 2 or lower displayed their rating.
When asked why they did not display their sticker, many English businesses cited the lack of a suitable visible location, while others said they would be more likely to display the sticker if their rating were higher.
Although awareness of the FHRS remains high—at 91% in England and 94% in Wales and Northern Ireland—actual display on digital platforms remains low. Audits of Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and business websites found very few companies post their ratings online.
In telephone surveys, a majority of businesses agreed that display should be mandatory on some online platforms, while only 10% mentioned their hygiene score in promotional materials.
Overall satisfaction with hygiene ratings was high across regions:
A majority of respondents—60% in England and Northern Ireland—said they would only be satisfied with a rating of 5, whereas 13% in Wales said they’d be content with a 3.
Interestingly, almost 90% of English businesses surveyed supported the idea of making rating display mandatory, citing it as a step toward improving food safety and transparency for consumers.
While businesses with ratings of 0 to 4 are entitled to appeal, reply, or request a re-inspection, few make use of these options despite widespread awareness.
When businesses do act to improve their rating, the most common measures include:
The FSA’s latest findings highlight a growing culture of transparency in England’s food industry, but also underscore the need for mandatory rating display and better digital integration to close the visibility gap.
With public interest in food safety on the rise, stakeholders may increasingly push for legislative changes to ensure that consumers can make informed decisions—whether dining out or ordering online.
Source: Food Safety Network