Food rating lies exposed by BBC secret recording

An undercover BBC investigation has revealed that businesses have been showing inaccurate food hygiene ratings, with many lying when challenged.

Secret recordings have captured businesses from local eateries to Sainsbury’s supermarket chain misleading customers with inaccurate Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, in what experts say is a national problem.

The BBC visited dozens of food outlets in east London over several weeks after receiving reports that ratings fraud was rife in the area. An expert says it amounts to fraud for places to lie when asked about their ratings.

When faced with the evidence, some companies did not respond at all, while others denied any intentional deception.

The BBC team began using hidden cameras in July and August to record the accuracy of the food hygiene ratings shown and observe how businesses reacted when asked about the scores.

A BBC investigation revealed that there are serious food hygiene problems in London’s Waltham Forest area. England and Wales have the highest proportion of businesses with food hygiene ratings of 0 to 2 stars as of September 2024. Plans under the FSAcompanies are ranked from zero to five, with companies scoring below three being described as needing improvement.

The Sainsbury’s store found to have misrepresented its status was one of its “local” stores in Leiden.

The BBC’s undercover team visited the store several times in July and August and found the five top marks prominently displayed there. However, its official FSA rating at the time was zero – indicating the need for urgent improvements.

An inspection report obtained by the BBC through a freedom of information request details serious pest control issues, with rat droppings found in an access hatch near a cash machine. Extensive dirt and grime was found throughout the store and cleaning standards were deemed “unacceptable”.

The report states, “Excessive dirt and debris under shelves, dirty evaporator grille in walk-in refrigerator, dirty bakery walls and ceiling, dirty lights in walk-in chiller, dirty kitchen and There are pieces in the corners of the warehouse”.

According to the report, some products on display did not have allergen labels, posing a risk to customers with food allergies.

The FSA’s hygiene ratings provide customers with information about the cleanliness and safety practices of establishments selling food. Ratings are based on factors such as food handling practices, facility cleanliness and overall food safety management.

A low score may indicate issues such as poor cleaning practices, improper food temperature control, or insect infestations. This situation can lead to bacterial growth, cross-contamination, and ultimately a higher likelihood of customers getting sick — in some cases seriously.

In response to the BBC investigation, Sainsbury’s said food safety was a top priority and claimed “95 per cent” of its stores were rated Level 5.

“We have removed the outdated rating label from the local store on Leyton High Road and have reviewed our procedures to ensure this does not happen again.”

The company also said it was “continuing to make improvements to the store” and acknowledged that an incorrect rating for the store was also displayed on the Sainsbury’s website and that this had been corrected. Since the BBC visited the store, its rating has improved from zero to three, meaning hygiene there is now “generally satisfactory”.

While Sainsbury’s’ actions have raised concerns about misleading customers, other organizations have lied when asked directly about their ratings, potentially committing fraud.

Nadeem Halal Meat & Grocery in Leiden is one such company.

When the BBC undercover reporter visited in July and August, the rating there was 3. However, the store’s rating is actually zero.

When asked, one manager assured our reporter: “Don’t worry, there’s never been a problem, there’s never been anything.”

However, an FSA inspection found that the store had a dirty environment and employees lacked food safety awareness.

When the BBC visited, we found evidence of a rodent infestation in the form of traps, suggesting the suspected presence of rats or mice.

At Café Mondial in Leiden, where the four grades on display indicate “good” hygiene standards, a manager there told our reporter: “Four is good. Close to five.” In fact, the cafe has a rating of 1.

Its FSA inspection report showed significant sanitation issues and a lack of allergen information.

At Lea’s Pizza & BBQ Express restaurant, when an undercover reporter expressed concerns about a previous stomach bug, the manager claimed the restaurant had a five-star rating.

“No problem,” he said, encouraging reporters to “look outside” to confirm the top scores.

At the time, the business had a zero rating.

At Midland Supermarket in Leiden, a five-star rating is prominently displayed, even though the store’s actual score is one star.

When asked, the manager told the BBC: “Five is excellent. One is low. Zero is bottom. Five is top.”

What he failed to mention was that UK Food Safety Authority inspectors found the store was selling food well past its sell-by date, putting customers at risk of consuming potentially dangerous products.

Food safety lawyer Jon Payne, who analyzed the BBC’s evidence, said businesses that lied when asked about food ratings could be committing fraud.

“It makes me angry to see some businesses willing to flout the law and put people at risk,” he said.

“The BBC’s investigation shows very clearly that there are many people willing to break the law. Those who lie about food hygiene ratings are committing a criminal offense; they are in fact criminals.”

He added: “If someone intentionally deceives a customer, that’s fraud. They know it and they don’t do anything about it. That’s fraud.”

“Handling food is serious matter. Anyone selling food is giving customers something that is put into their bodies that will ultimately kill them.”

He pointed out that the problem was far from an isolated one in east London.

“This happens all over the country,” Mr Payne told the BBC. “I and many other lawyers come across this every few months in our work. It’s not just limited to small agencies; Happens in larger venues.”

Selena Green’s experience illustrates the dangers of poor food hygiene. After eating a chicken pastry at an unrelated five-star restaurant, she became seriously ill with what doctors said was food poisoning.

“I started feeling very, very uncomfortable and lay down,” Ms. Green recalled. “Then it was probably about one o’clock in the morning and I went to the bathroom because I felt like I wanted to throw up. I remember I just passed out on the bathroom floor and I just started getting pale.”

The situation quickly became critical. “I was so weak by then that I couldn’t even move,” she said. “A family member took me into the front room. I started to have trouble breathing. I started to feel sick and started to turn pale… My sister called an ambulance to pick me up.”

Her ordeal, which ended in hospitalization, is a stark reminder of the serious consequences that can occur when food hygiene standards are compromised.

The BBC identified 27 businesses that were misleading the public, all within a few miles of each other, and contacted all of the businesses mentioned in this article.

Nadeem Halal Meat & Grocery apologized and said it was retraining staff.

Pizza BBQ Express says employees were confused by the rating discrepancy and denies intentional deception. Its ratings have risen to level three since it was recorded on the BBC.

Midland Supermarket and Café Mondial did not respond to requests for comment.

The investigation raises questions about the effectiveness of England’s voluntary display system for food hygiene ratings. Unlike Wales and Northern Ireland, UK businesses can legally choose whether to display their ratings or even display false ratings.

Consumer protection lawyer Richard Reichman believes the nature of England’s system could be an issue.

“I can see an argument that it would be helpful for businesses to display food hygiene ratings so that it is clear to consumers what their rating is, rather than consumers needing to search for the rating online,” he said.

“The voluntary nature of the system in England may be one of the reasons for the problems we are seeing.”

Waltham Forest Council, which enforces breaches of trading standards identified by the BBC, said it takes food hygiene very seriously and closes around 50 businesses every year due to substandard standards. It added that it would investigate any misrepresentation of the score.

The Food Standards Agency says it may be illegal to display incorrect ratings. It said the latest audit showed 91% of UK businesses showed the correct rating, adding that it had long argued for the scheme to be made statutory in England – as it is in Wales and Northern Ireland – but the final The decision was made by the British government. government.

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