New rating system for restaurants

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) will build on the success of the current ‘scores on the doors' scheme.
This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with council's in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food.
Food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are routinely inspected by the council's food safety officers to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements.
Findings are rated on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of five ‘very good.’
West Berkshire's Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), said: "Customers will be better informed when eating out as having a single nationwide scheme means that the ratings will have the same significance wherever people are buying and eating food.
“Consumers will be able to choose where to eat with more confidence further from home as well as locally. Food companies will also recognise that displaying a good hygiene rating is good for business."
Around one million people suffer from food poisoning every year, and the FSA’s aim in developing the FHRS is to reduce this number. The ratings will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop, so that they can make more informed choices about which places they prefer to visit.
The ratings will be available for anyone to view on the FSA website at food.gov.uk/ratings
Food businesses will be given a sticker and certificate to display at the entrance to their premises so that they are clearly visible to potential customers.