Hygiene ratings 'could see hundreds of Shropshire eateries shunned'
Customers could shun nearly 400 businesses in Shropshire if mandatory legislation to display food hygiene ratings is brought in across the country, an organisation has warned.
The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society's food hygiene ratings report has revealed that 44 per cent of people would turn away from eateries if a food hygiene rating of less than four out of five was on display.
According to the Food Standards Agency, 398 businesses in Shropshire have a rating of three or less.
Ratings are on a scale from zero to five, with zero meaning "urgent improvement necessary" and five being "very good".
The NFU Mutual report has been published today with the aim of understanding how food hygiene ratings would affect UK businesses.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, food hygiene ratings must be displayed in any outlet that serves or sells food such as restaurants, hotels and supermarkets.
The same rules have not yet been applied in England.
But the Food Standards Agency has been gathering evidence to present to the Government for consideration, and it could be brought in as soon as 2019.
It includes 172 businesses in Telford and Wrekin and 226 in the wider Shropshire area.
Darren Seward, hospitality sector specialist at NFU Mutual, said: "Our report shows that when it comes to food safety customers have naturally high standards and that a 'good' score can no longer be seen as an aspiration but a minimum benchmark."
More than 88 per cent of businesses in Shropshire that serve or sell food have a food hygiene rating of four or five.
Mr Seward added: "It's fantastic to see that 88 per cent of food outlets in Shropshire have a rating of good or very good and the industry as a whole is taking real pride in food hygiene, but imminent compulsory displays are destined to be a game changer for those businesses struggling to reach the top grades.
"In advance of legislation changes all business owners should prioritise their food hygiene plans and processes, acting now to ensure that they have considered all hygiene and paperwork aspects rated by their local authority including cleanliness, structure and confidence in management, to ensure a continued rating of four or five for the day an inspector calls.
"Our free NFU Mutual food hygiene ratings report contains advice to help businesses achieve a top rating."
According to the Food Standards Agency, there are more than 60,000 businesses in England with a rating of three or less, out of 424,123 across the country.
To request a free copy of the report, visit nfumutual.co.uk/foodhygiene
