Food Hygiene Information Scheme

‘Scores on the Doors’

Robert Lyle

The Drivers

• During 2004 - SCC made a series of recommendations to the Agency:

• “need to examine methods that enable consumers to make informed choices in relation to premises serving food…”

• “FSA should establish a working group to facilitate this by examining different methods that exist, including from outside of the UK…..”

• Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

• Hampton Review

Working Group Members

Working Group Research

Toronto

English LA schemes – Gt. Yarmouth, Camden

Scottish LA publication of inspection reports

Danish Smiley faces scheme

FSA Consumer and business focus group research

New York City

The Pilot Scheme Objectives

Provide information to consumers in a way that’s simple to understand and available at the premises and on the web site

Drive up standards by encouraging businesses to comply with hygiene legislation

To encourage those businesses that choose to adopt best practice beyond compliance

To ensure that the public is adequately informed about the aims and nature of the scheme prior to inception

Working Group Output

• 2 categories:

• - Pass• - Improvement Required

Scheme to be based on the current risk rating factors for CIM, Hygiene and Structure with any non- compliances to be minor in nature, non-recurring and not critical to food safety.

Principles for a web based information system

The Pilots

Scotland - 5 LAs

33 London Boroughs - awarding “star” ratings

East Midlands City Group - various schemes - including “smiley faces”

Food Hygiene Information Scheme in Perth & Kinross

600 Premises Reduced because certain premises

exempt Had to “cleanse” database Had to modify approach to scoring.

Why bother?

FSA’s Strategic plan is; Aim to reduce incidence of food borne

illness by 20%, in that, Seeing a rating on view informs

customers Growing public awareness along with

the FOIA

What is the purpose of the pilot?

To give the FSA evidence it needs to recommend one scheme nationwide

Pilot will also help decide if scheme is to be voluntary or required by legislation

Pilot will last two years unless scheme so successful that nationwide implementation is saught

How will success of pilot be measured?

Impact of scheme on hygiene standards Compliance with Food Hygiene Leg Consumer behaviour LA compliance costs Consistency between authorities Level of business co-operation Suggested that reduction in Category

but this has highlighted need for control area

What if there’s a legal challenge

Advised fully legal, already had someone threaten to sue

Legal to disclose FBO’s name & address Is consistent with FOI information

Why is it called FHIS

Involved in consultation with private PR Company

Names that didn’t quite make it!

Scores on the Doors The Official Eye Ice cream cones Big door (looked like a fireplace) Cloth Golden haggis Spick and span An Inspector Calls, and The Golden Mops

What it’s not

Scores on the doors An award scheme A way of encouraging better failure Predominantly web based Wholly dependant on C o P risk

rating Traffic lights, stars

What it is

Food Hygiene Information Scheme Simplified information Wholly related to compliance Predominantly aimed at on-site

information to inform choice About transparent enforcement

What consumer will see

From 6 November...

Web based information

PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS

?

What consumers will see - web

T o w n B u s in e s s O p e r a t o r S t a t u sIn s p e c t io n

D a t e

B ig to w nP e te r s C a fé2 1 H ig h S t r e e tB T 1 1 1 B T

P e te r J o n e s Im p r o v e m e n t R e q u ir e d 0 1 /0 5 /0 6

B ig to w nM o y r a 's H o te l2 2 H ig h S t r e e tB T 1 1 1 B A

M o y r a S m ith P a s s 0 1 /1 2 /0 5

B ig to w nT h e C lo th e s S h o p2 5 - 2 9 H ig h S t r e e tB T 1 1 1 B A

A B C R e ta i l( S c o t la n d ) L td

E x e m p t 0 1 /1 2 /0 5

S m a l l to w n T r a v e l le r s I n n1 - 3 C a s t le S q u a r eS T 1 2 1 S A

T r a v e l le r s I n n s( U K ) P L C

A w a i t in g in s p e c t io n .( A d d e d to in s p e c t io np r o g r a m m e o n 1 2 /1 1 /0 6 )

S m a l l to w nG r e a t F o o d1 2 S c o t t S t r e e tS T 1 2 1 S T

J o h n M c K a yP a s s a n d E A Ts a fe a w a r d 0 1 /1 2 /0 5

Can we be sure it will work?

Similar schemes operate in US, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe

One US scheme reported a 20% reduction in food borne disease related visits to hospital

Radio stations played an advert promoting the FHIS on;

Radio ForthRadio ClydeNorthsoundRadio Tay

Any Questions