Twenty Isle of Man businesses have temporarily shut in the past five years over food hygiene risk

A total of 20 food businesses have temporarily closed in the past five years after inspectors identified risks to public health.

The figures have been released by former Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) Minister Clare Barber following a commitment she made in the House of Keys in June.

There have been no food hygiene prosecutions in the island during the period.

Mrs Barber said this was largely because food businesses had worked with inspectors to resolve issues through education and advice rather than formal enforcement action.

She said: ‘The team have advised that over the last five years, 20 businesses have agreed to voluntarily close to address imminent risks to health identified during our food hygiene inspections.’

Three businesses also voluntarily surrendered food which was considered unfit for consumption or did not have appropriate traceability.

Mrs Barber said many other businesses had voluntarily disposed of food in circumstances where inspectors could otherwise have used formal powers to seize or detain it before disposal.

The figures also show that two food businesses received written warnings after evidence of smoking was found in no-smoking premises.

Over the five-year period, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture issued 56 hygiene improvement notices.

There were also 10 health and safety prohibition notices, three food information regulations improvement notices, two remedial action notices and two local authority abatement notices.

One DEFA abatement notice was also issued.

The information was provided as part of a response to questions about food hygiene enforcement in the island.

It comes as cafés, restaurants, pubs and takeaways will soon be subject to food hygiene inspections, with their ratings then published online.

Currently, there is no way for customers to find out how clean an eatery is in the island.

In England and Wales, there is a well-established food hygiene rating system in which establishments are rated from zero to five, with zero meaning ‘urgent improvement needed’ and five meaning ‘very good’.

But the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) says a similar rating system will be introduced early next year.

It means customers will soon have access to clear information about food hygiene standards when eating out.

The new Food Hygiene Scheme will see more than 300 cafés, restaurants, takeaways and pubs serving meals inspected from early 2027, with results published online as inspections are carried out.

The scheme will mirror the system in England and Wales, using the same zero-to-five rating.

Eateries will be assessed on how food is handled, the condition and cleanliness of their premises and whether management systems are in place to maintain standards.

All businesses covered by the scheme will be inspected during early 2027, ensuring a level playing field regardless of when they would normally be due a routine inspection.

In Wales, businesses must display their rating regardless of the score, but the island will follow England's model, where displaying it is discretionary.

The move follows a U-turn by then DEFA Minister Clare Barber, who told Tynwald members in November 2024 that such a scheme was not practical and could ultimately be unfair and damaging to businesses.