BUSINESSES in Newport have been targeted by a food hygiene rating scam, the Foods Standards Agency has warned.

People claiming to be from the FSA or working for the local authority have approached businesses, demanding money for a food hygiene re-rating and warning that failure to pay would result in a fine.

"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," Angela Towers, head of the FSA's food hygiene rating team, said in a warning to business owners.

Newport is one of three Welsh local authorities in which the scam has been reported. Businesses in Cardiff and Swansea have also been targeted.

Food hygiene ratings – advertised outside restaurants and takeaways by their distinctive black-and-green stickers – are awarded by local authorities based on the findings of inspections.

Those inspections are carried out for free. The only case in which a business is charged is if that business requests a re-rating inspection. Local authorities do not demand that such requests are made, the FSA said.

"Although the number of reports of this particular scam are low, we are concerned that businesses may lose money to fraudsters pretending to be from the FSA or a local authority," Ms Towers added.

The FSA said it was working closely with local authorities to monitor these reports, and offered the following advice to business owners who are concerned they may be targeted.

  • Do not provide any details or make any payments.
  • Ask for ID from the caller.
  • Report suspicions to the local authority.