As clean as they look? Food hygiene inspection scores, microbiological contamination, and foodborne illness. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fleetwood, Janet; Rahman, Shamim; Holland, Darren; Millson, David; Thomson, Laura; Poppy, Guy
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 96(2019)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Restaurant inspection -- Microbiological contamination -- Foodborne illness; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.08.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: This work describes the relationship between compliance with food hygiene law as reflected in food hygiene scores; measures of microbiological contamination of food samples taken from consumer-facing food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales; and outbreaks of foodborne illness. This paper demonstrates an association between the results of food hygiene inspections done by trained inspectors, using a rigorous and consistent procedure, with microbiological contamination of actual food samples from those premises. A proposed theoretical model further demonstrates the reduction in foodborne illness that would result if there were increased compliance with food hygiene law. Highlights: Low hygiene ratings are associated with higher microbiological contamination. High hygiene ratings are associated with lower microbiological contamination. Increased compliance with food hygiene law could reduce foodborne illness.