Views of Cork public sought on food hygiene rating scheme

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has launched a public consultation seeking views from consumers and food businesses on a national food hygiene rating scheme.

In several other countries, food hygiene rating schemes provide customers with signage that indicates the level of cleanliness and food safety standards of a food business based on official food safety inspections.

The FSAI’s Food Safety Consultative Council is calling on consumers and food businesses in Ireland to make their views known through an online consultation which will run until June 23.

Food hygiene rating schemes are in operation in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, Denmark, and France, and in some US states.

They typically involve the public display of food safety inspection results as a number, letter, or symbol on the food business’s window and/or website.

This helps customers to make informed choices about where they eat and purchase food, while encouraging businesses to maintain high food safety standards.

Inform

The results of the consultation will better inform the Food Safety Consultative Council’s understanding of consumers’ and food businesses’ opinions about a food hygiene rating scheme for Ireland.

All responses are anonymous, and participants will also have the opportunity to express interest in taking part in possible focus groups or interviews in the future.

Food Safety Consultative Council chair Jamie Knox urged participation in the consultation. “Food hygiene rating schemes have been shown internationally to empower consumers and drive higher standards across the food sector. Just as importantly, we understand the value of listening to concerns the food industry may have.”

Information gathered from the consultation will inform a comprehensive evaluation report, expected to be finalised in early 2026.

To access the online consultation follow the link at https://www.fsai.ie.