Hygiene Rating Scheme for Restaurants and other Catering Establishments

About Hygiene Rating:

FSSAI Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is an online, transparent scoring and rating process which aims to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places where they eat out & through these choices, encourage businesses to improve their hygiene standards & thus reduce the incidence of food-borne illness. This Hygiene rating concept is new in India, but has parallels in many countries across the globe. Every country has its own terminologies which explain the idea of ensuring safe and hygienic food in all catering businesses to the general public. Some of the well-known schemes already in place are “Food Hygiene Rating Scheme” (FHRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, “Scores on Doors” a star rating scheme in Australia, etc.

A roll out of hygiene ratings will not only be for the good of all consumers, but will also be instrumental in changing perceptions of Indian Food sector across the globe. It can increase investor confidence in the regulatory environment and hence attract more funding in this sector. By creating awareness amongst the consumers and food business owners (FBO), it will improve quality of food supply and increase demand as well. Both, size of pie and share for all food players will expand.

Many avoidable illnesses due to food and water contamination will be contained, creating great economic value due to less downtime of the workforce and reduced hospital bills.

The ratings system will be implemented in 2 parts:

• Hygiene ratings – which will score and rate the FBO on meeting basic requirements ensuring good hygiene practices for all processes including handling raw material, maintaining clean premises, storing food etc.
• Hygiene ratings + (Also known as “Responsible place to eat”) – Its compliance will enhance the FBO’s scope and responsibility towards providing safe and nutritious food to a larger community. They will be motivated to taking care of their employees, the underprivileged and also serving the customer beyond the mandatory, by making them aware of healthy choices and giving them access to such options.

Current Mandatory Requirements:

• Qualified FBOs need to have FSSAI License/ Registration and follow schedule 4 requirements. This aims to provide for adequate measures that are to be adopted to ensure that food being served to the consumers is of good quality and safe to eat.
• Train all food handlers and appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisors. Access FSS training portal “FOSTAC” to get more information.
• Must have Food Safety Display Boards prominently displayed in the premises.
• Get food samples tested periodically.

Enrolling in Hygiene Ratings Scheme:

1. Log in using your Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) credentials at: www.fssai.gov.in/hygieneRating/login
2. Follow Guidelines and complete self-assessment
3. Generate “hygiene rating” or enroll for “Responsible place to eat”
4. Print self-assessment ratings certificate online.
5. Verification of ratings will be done by a FSO (Food Safety officer ” from FSSAI, through an inspection.
6. Post Inspection, FBO can generate the verified(signed) rating certificate.
7. Enroll for “Responsible place to eat” if above ratings score is 4 (Good) or more.

Checklist and Scoring process:

1. A sample Audit Checklist for assessment of the FBO on Hygiene Ratings is accessible at link: http://fssai.gov.in/hygiene Rating/hygeine Check List
2. How to calculate scores:
   1. Indicated marks for each question marked yes, will be added to arrive at the total score.
   2. Questions marked with “Asterisk” are critical and impact food safety. Failure to comply with these will lead to non-issuance of ratings.
   3. Score achieved is converted to percentage via the formula : Total Score value * 100 / 114

How to improve your Hygiene Rating:

Any FBO desirous of improving their ratings can do so by taking following steps:

• Check the practices not followed as per the above audit checklist and arrive at the issues.
• Some pointers to reflect on the ideal hygiene practices, are available here.
• Take clear, concrete steps to ensure and demonstrate compliance for each of these issues.
• Redo self-assessment, which is not earlier than 3 months from the previous inspection and print certificate.
• Re-inspection will be done automatically as per the first in – first out queue with the FSO (Food Safety Officer).
• Print the new verified rating certificate online.

Download, Read & Share:

• Hygiene Rating and Right Place to Eat (For Food Service Establishment)

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