Lucknow: Less than 2% of the city’s 36,000 registered food business operators (FBOs) have obtained FSSAI hygiene ratings, with only 642 establishments enrolling under the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), the state agency responsible for regulating food safety standards.The hygiene rating scheme of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) is aimed at encouraging food businesses to maintain higher standards of cleanliness and food safety while helping customers make informed choices about where they eat.The rating also serves as a visible indicator of an establishment’s compliance with hygiene norms.Of the registered FBOs, around 9,500 operate from designated premises such as restaurants, hotels, dhabas, cafes, bakeries and sweet shops.Assistant commissioner, FSDA, Vijay Pratap Singh, said the response to the scheme remained below expectations. “Only 642 establishments have opted for hygiene ratings so far. Considering that around 9,500 organised eateries operate from designated premises, many more should come forward to get their facilities assessed,” he said.Singh attributed the low participation to the voluntary nature of the programme and the cost of assessment.“Since the scheme is voluntary and establishments have to pay an audit fee, many food business operators do not opt for hygiene ratings. We are encouraging them to participate in larger numbers,” he said.Under the scheme, eateries employing up to 25 workers are required to pay an audit fee of Rs 3,000, while establishments with more than 25 employees are charged Rs 5,925. Despite the low uptake, Singh claimed Lucknow ranks first in Uttar Pradesh in terms of the number of hygiene-rated food establishments.President of Lucknow Hotel, Guest House and Restaurant Owners Association, Surendra Kumar Sharma, said lack of awareness was one of the key reasons behind the limited participation.“The department needs to highlight the importance of hygiene ratings and explain how they can benefit businesses by improving customer confidence while ensuring better hygiene standards. Workshops should be organised in collaboration with associations representing hotels, restaurants and other food businesses to create awareness,” Sharma said.A hotel owner, Rajiv Singh, said that the voluntary nature of the scheme and the audit fee also discouraged many operators from seeking certification.“Since obtaining the rating is not mandatory, many business owners tend to overlook its benefits despite the advantages it offers,” he said.
