STORY: Bakers warned about hygiene scam

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it had “been made aware of a scam in Wales and England which references both the FSA and the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).”

Four local authorities – three in Wales and one in England, have been told a person pretending to be from the FSA or local authority has demanded money from food businesses in return for a food hygiene re-rating. The person in question then says failure to pay will result in a fine.

The FSA said: “Neither the FSA nor local authorities would demand money in this way. Local authorities are responsible for carrying out inspections of food businesses to check that they meet the requirements of food hygiene law.

“They give businesses food hygiene ratings based on the findings of the inspections. There is no charge for these inspections.  Local authorities may charge only when the re-rating inspection is requested by the food business and will not demand that a request is made.”

If you are concerned that your business may have been targeted by a scam referencing food hygiene inspections or the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, do not provide any details or make any payments and ask for ID from the caller.

If you have any suspicions, please report these to your local authority. 

Angela Towers, Head of the Food Hygiene Rating Team of the FSA said she was “concerned that businesses may lose money to fraudsters”, and added “if you are approached by someone asking you to hand over money in this way, do not make any payment and always advise your local authority.”