Scores on Doors – supporting consumer choice

Information for consumers is once again in the news. In March 2008 the FSA Board agreed that a single nationwide ‘scores on the doors’ scheme should be put in place to make food business hygiene ratings available to consumers. This decision was based on experience with over 100 schemes which have been running over the past two years and demonstrates the Agency's commitment to enable consumer choice.

The scheme proposed is aimed at providing information to inform consumers and consumer choice. But once again there is the debate about whether consumers want information of this type – will they understand it, and what will they do with it.Those who heard the Board discussion heard that the debate was not about whether we have a scheme, but about the type of scheme that would benefit consumers.

Consultation

It was agreed that the Agency will consult on two options for a national scheme.

• a four tiered system, with three stars and a fail rating
• a three tier scheme with ‘Pass’ or ‘Improvement Required’ certificates being issued, alongside a fail rating – as per the scheme which has been piloted in Scotland

A 12-week consultation will be launched and be made available on the FSA website. The Agency is asking all interested parties to respond to this. Once this consultation has closed and the Agency has reviewed the responses we will work with local authorities to finalise and implement the scheme.

Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair of the FSA said: 'We had a lively and interesting discussion. The Board agreed that we should adopt a UK wide, Scores on the Doors scheme. It also felt that it was only proper that as well as consulting on the scheme that our research shows is popular with consumers we should also ask people to think about the scheme which has been running in Scotland for the last 18 months. 'Scores on the doors' is an important step in empowering consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat. The pilot schemes have provided valuable data to inform the decision of the Board and I would like to extend the Agency’s thanks to all of the local authorities who implemented and maintained these and other scores on the doors schemes.

Andrew Wadge the Food Standards Agency’s Chief Scientist wrote:

Consumer and food business organisations, and enforcement bodies, will provide key input to that consultation. But it would be great to know what ordinary consumers would like from a scheme. As a family man with children, as well as being a scientist, I am firmly in the camp of ‘the more information for consumers the better’.

So what camp are you in – do comment, and watch the website for the chance to give your views to the consultation.

http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/mar/scores