On the tenth anniversary of mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) reports that 71 percent of Welsh food businesses now have a top hygiene rating of five, reflecting a 44 percent increase over the last decade.

In 2013, Wales became the first country in the UK to make it a legal requirement for food businesses to display hygiene rating stickers in prominent places, such as front doors and windows. As a result, the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has driven an improvement in food businesses’ hygiene standards across Wales, with 96 percent of businesses now displaying a rating of three or above.

UK local authorities conduct inspections to give food businesses hygiene ratings ranging from 0–5. Clear displays of hygiene ratings give consumers the ability to make informed choices about where they buy and eat food, which encourages food businesses to improve their hygiene standards.

FSA research has also shown that premises with higher ratings are less likely to have outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.