Food rating lies exposed by BBC secret recording | BBC News

An undercover BBC investigation has revealed businesses have been displaying inaccurate food hygiene ratings in England and Wales, with many lying about them when challenged.

Secret recording captured businesses from small local restaurants to a supermarket chain, misleading customers with inaccurate Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, in what experts say is a nationwide problem.

Where places lied when asked about their ratings, one expert said this amounted to fraud.

Confronted with the evidence, some businesses did not respond at all while others denied any deliberate deception.

#FSA #FoodSafety #BBCNews

[ozzmundo]

anything under 3 star should be closed till its corrected

[JamWake-wkzn]

Can’t the hygiene officers hand out a sticker with QR code on it that directs you an official website to check if it’s official? And if you don’t have a QR code it means it’s fake?

[Ivan-fsgo]

There are no sense in 5 points rating. It must work like this: health hazard = no license to operate, otherwise it is ok

[terinagray]

Places lying should be shut down immediately!

[Corin-vo]

I’m a chef and I’ll think you’ll find the EHO only gives you a hygiene rating based on the paperwork you fill out. They don’t do enough spot checks

[JeffreyGoddin]

No. Finding a trap does NOT suggest a problem. It demonstrates an active pest control program. Traps are just there for detection, so you know when you have a problem. Which isn't to say that this curry shop or whatever isn't an absolute hazards, just that traps are actually a good sign.

[susanb]

How is it legal to stay in business with any dangerous food?

[slacksmeridian]

After watching this I think the only way I'm ever gonna lose weight is to become a safety inspector.
I might never eat again.

[denisemoore]

Pretty stupid system - if the sign can be posted by the restaurant. In my country, the sign is only available to be posted by the inspector - common sense no?

[MrDanlancelot]

"places lying about their rating COULD be in this isn't even a case where they can claim ignorance or incompetence, like saying they forget to change the sign. they straight up claimed they had 4 or 5 ratings to the reporter. also, I don't think "we accidentally left the old sign up" should ever be a defense. these places should be immediately shut down and the owners never allowed to run a business, alongside any fines or other punishments

[jessieb]

This is why I no longer eat out or get takeaways; plus it saves money.

[magdas]

For citizens of almost every European country living in the UK this is little surprise, u can see a lack of accountability and law execution in this country almost on every level, sheer mockery:(

[martinwyke]

Impose big fines and costs to cover enforcement.
It took me less than a minute to find fake stickers for sale online and PDFs for self printing.

[claudiasimpson]

Inspection must be secretly done. No phone calls or email to say inspection today or next week, just sudden

[flyagaric]

They hold utter disdain and contempt for their customers. There should be a bare minimum of 3 to stay open. Fine them £5000 and give it to our pensioners.

[takiherosquires]

Food hygene shouldnt have a scale, just a "safe to eat" or "not safe to eat, so you cant do business yet"

[KeithRingo]

The joke here is you get a zero and youre still allowed to sell food anyway

[z_unknown]

Food safety investigation needed all over the world

[alexgee]

What is even more worrying is that this is even more prevalent on food delivery sites.

[RustyShackleford]

So in a nutshell, they all got away with it with zero repercussions! Sounds about right for doormat Britain. Complete waste of time.