For once, Britain’s BBC – the state-run broadcasting house – is doing something good. Journalists representing the corporation have unearthed a wealth of lies, via secret recordings, about food ratings.
And that’s a dangerous game to play.
At a glance:
- A BBC investigation uncovers food establishments misleading customers with inaccurate hygiene ratings.
- Major chains like Sainsbury’s and small local businesses were caught falsely displaying higher Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings than they had earned.
- Some businesses showed five-star ratings despite severe cleanliness and pest control issues, with experts calling it potential fraud.
A recent undercover investigation by the BBC has revealed a disturbing trend of food establishments across London displaying misleading food hygiene ratings, with businesses ranging from local eateries to a Sainsbury’s supermarket chain caught deceiving customers. The findings raise concerns about food safety across the nation, especially in areas like Waltham Forest, which has the highest percentage of low-rated food establishments in England and Wales.
Using hidden cameras, the BBC visited numerous food businesses in east London throughout July and August, uncovering establishments that displayed high Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings while their actual scores were far lower. This has sparked concerns among food safety experts, who warn that such actions may cross into criminal territory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SO8KcfhJmc
One of the most notable cases was a Sainsbury’s Local store in Leyton, which prominently displayed a five-star rating while its actual FSA score was zero. The store had severe hygiene issues, including the discovery of mouse droppings, excessive dirt, and inadequate cleaning in food storage areas. The FSA report detailed numerous violations, including dirty evaporator grills and debris in the bakery and warehouse. The Sainsbury’s store has since improved its rating to a three, but not before months of misleading customers.
Sainsbury’s responded to the findings by stating, “We’ve removed an outdated rating sticker at our Leyton High Road Local store and reviewed our procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” They also admitted that the incorrect rating had been displayed online but was later rectified.
Other businesses caught in the investigation include Nadeem Halal Meat & Grocery, where a five-star rating was displayed despite a zero rating. The shop was found to have filthy conditions, and staff exhibited a lack of food safety knowledge. Similarly, Café Mondial falsely claimed a rating of four, while the actual score was one, indicating major hygiene issues.
The BBC also visited Pizza & BBQ Express in Lea, which displayed a five-star rating while having an FSA rating of zero. A manager falsely reassured customers of the high rating, despite evidence of poor hygiene.
Food safety lawyer Jon Payne, who analyzed the BBC’s findings, noted that businesses lying about their hygiene ratings may be committing fraud. He explained, “Where there is a deliberate attempt to deceive a customer, that’s where it’s fraud.”
The investigation highlights the risks associated with poor food hygiene, as evidenced by the experience of Selena Green, who fell seriously ill after eating at an unrelated establishment. Green was hospitalized with food poisoning, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by substandard hygiene practices.
The issue of deceptive hygiene ratings raises questions about England’s voluntary display system for food hygiene scores. Unlike Wales and Northern Ireland, where displaying hygiene ratings is mandatory, English businesses are not required by law to display their FSA rating. This has led to calls for reforms that would make the system mandatory, ensuring greater transparency for consumers.
While some businesses, such as Midland Supermarket, claimed confusion over the rating display, experts argue that more needs to be done to enforce the correct display of hygiene ratings and ensure that customers are not misled. Waltham Forest Council, responsible for enforcing trading standards in the area, said it would investigate the findings.
The Food Standards Agency has also voiced support for making the display of hygiene ratings mandatory in England.