Region in bottom half for food hygiene

DUMFRIES and Galloway has been ranked 21 of out 32 areas in Scotland for food hygiene. Of the 759 premises inspected in the region this year, 92.4 per cent passed. The data has been highlighted by High Speed Training, who investigated Food Standards Agency (FSA) records for the UK.\ A spokesperson said: "We conducted similar reports in 2022, 2023 and 2024, providing a picture of how the food hygiene landscape is evolving." This year the FSA marks 15 years since the introduction of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) and they continue to urge consumers to ‘look before they book’. Dr Richard Anderson, from High Speed Training, said: “Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses, and to the customers who use them. 15 years have passed since the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, and its place in the industry is as vital as ever. "These ratings are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates, and we urge businesses and customers to take them seriously. “Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have improved from 2024."