The NFU Mutual Food Hygiene Report 2020 says the figure shows more trust is now placed in the Food Standards Agency (FSA) scheme. In a similar survey in 2017, one in every 20 said they were not affected by an outlet’s food hygiene score.
The strategic aim of the FSA is to extend mandatory display of food hygiene ratings to food outlets across England this year.
Of the 480,350 registered businesses throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has its own Food Hygiene Information Scheme) that are required to carry a rating, 64% have a hygiene score of 5, 15% achieve 4, 7% score 3 and just 4% rate 2 or below.
These figures do not, though, include care homes, schools, farms and distributors.
The ratings are made by a local authority-appointed food safety officer, where 5 means ‘very good’ down 0, which means ‘requiring urgent improvement’.
The survey found that 69% of people check the food hygiene ratings of the food establishments they use, and third (34%) said that a score of 3 or less would be enough to persuade them to look elsewhere.
They said that a poor score made them assume the food outlet had a ‘dirty workspace’.
Darren Seward, hospitality and food & drink manufacturing specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “What jumps out at me from the research is the strong link between the effect that a rating has on customers, and how this impacts profit.
“Your hygiene rating can directly improve or hinder your financial performance in what is a very competitive marketplace. With margins being so tight, there is little doubt that maintaining or building your hygiene rating should be at the top of your agenda.”