Stars are a popular symbol for rating , with scales ranging from one to three or five stars being prevalent . Besides stars , rating systems also use other symbols such as numbers , diamonds , points , or alphabets . The booming rating culture and consumer reliance have impacted sales and business reputations .

The rule of thumb is that the higher the star or points , the much higher the sales volume . Rating is not only good for sales , but it also compels businesses to adjust their behaviour to improve their value .

Rating systems for restaurants

Different types of rating systems established in the foodservice context categorise restaurants based on distinct criteria such as food safety , quality , nutrition , or overall culinary experience .

These ratings may appear in guidebooks , newspapers , magazines , websites or webzines ( website magazine ). The rating methods range from systematic inspection or audit by local authorities and professionals to unpaid consumer reviews .

Consumer-written reviews or rating is becoming increasingly popular . These reviews , although authentic , could be pretty subjective and come across as partial .

Consumers , often than not , cannot always judge certain aspects of the restaurant , such as its food safety practices , simply by walking in . It is where objective , systematic , and standardised rating systems that come from the authorities ( such as the public health officials ) and professional entities play a role .

Many countries , for instance , have a system of check-in place for restaurant sanitation in which public health officials are usually in charge of the inspection . A commercial entity could also establish the rating system .

Famous examples are the French tyre company Michelin , which established Michelin

BY ANIS NAJIHA AHMAD

AND

KHAIRUSY SYAKIRIN HAS-YUN HASHIM

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

Stars , and Gambero Rosso , an Italian food and wine publishing group that produces the Gambero Rosso Rating .

Benefits of restaurant rating systems

Besides standardising objective assessment , there are several benefits to a professional star rating system for restaurants . An independent assessor , for instance , could give impartial advice that helps the restaurant maintain specific desirable criteria .

The advice could also be used to employ different strategies to improve the restaurant ’ s rating . Professional or commercial rating providers often bundle their marketing and advertising services to help restaurants reach a broad potential customer base .

The restaurant could use the approved and recognised star plaques , certificates , logos , and signage to highlight and promote their ratings and increase their patrons . These all give a competitive advantage over the restaurants that are without stars .

Michelin Stars , the stars that shine the brightest

None is perhaps as prominent and well known as the Michelin Stars among these many stars and rating systems . One may argue that Michelin Stars is the only food rating system truly worldwide , keeping its footprints from Europe to America and even Asia .

Started in the 1900s , Michelin had plenty of time to perfect their restaurant rating process , system , and reputation . Consumers now consider Michelin stars a signal of a great dining experience . The Michelin stars are awarded to the top restaurants with a three-star rating .

• One Star : Excellent restaurant in its category .

• Two Stars : Excellent good food in a unique setting worth a detour .

• Three Stars : Exceptional cuisine worth a special journey . Michelin-starred restaurants often enjoy a high reputation and visibility . In Europe , the guide is even associated with innovations . The success of Michelin could be attributed to its systematic and rigorous quality checks . The Michelin reviewers are anonymous , and the restaurant is rated based on three criteria : quality of ingredients , mastery of cooking techniques , and the consistency of foodservice .

A trained inspector will visit a restaurant and write a detailed assessment . In contrast to many other restaurant guides , Michelin also offers no advertising or has hidden fees .

Fancy food does not ( always ) mean TOYYIB food

Michelin stars , without doubt , is the most prominent and reputable rating system in the gastronomy landscape . However , this rating is perhaps less helpful for Muslim patrons given its lack of consideration to our halalan toyyiban dietary requirements .

While multiple criteria set by this Michelin guide are all relevant for a great and fine dining experience , for Muslims , dining would not happen in the first place if the food is not halal . Toyyib , which is integral to the concept of hygiene and food safety , is also not part of their assessment .

In fact , a report from the Food Standards Agency ( FSA ), a United Kingdom non-ministerial government department responsible for

food safety and hygiene , found that Michelin restaurants generally scored lower in food safety than chain restaurants . Alas , fancy food does not always mean TOYYIB food .

A new star in town

At the International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM ), efforts are underway to develop a rating system to rate the overall HALALan TOYYIBan aspect of eating outlets such as restaurants and cafes .

The Toyyib Food Outlet Rating System ( TFORS ) project is a part of the IIUM Flagships , a high-impact initiative with a set of activities that aim to support the University ’ s mission to develop balanced graduates and balanced staff , values creation , sejahtera society , and institutional stability .

In this initiative , a system is developed to support multiple activities such as TOYYIB appraisal matrix development , audit training , public awareness , aiming to disrupt the way our society decides its meals while patronising food outlets .

Guided by both maqasid al-shari ’ ah ( higher objectives of the Sha ’ riah ) and Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), this appraisal matrix focuses on seven categories :

• General requirements .

• Premises .

• Nutritious menu .

• Food hygiene .

• Food safety .

• Employee and food service .

• Innovation . This rating system goes beyond the source verification and hygienic processing of halal food by incorporating a nutrient category . Previous studies have shown that the inclusion of the nutrition aspect in the restaurant rating could be an intervention tool for consumers to identify healthier choices .

The benefits of incorporating TOYYIB aspects into the rating go both ways . It not only creates competitive advantages for the restaurant , but it could also potentially change the way consumers behave .

The Stars , that are ours

Food for Muslims needs to be in line with the halalan toyyiban concept . This need has given rise to the Malaysian halal logo and certification system , a hallmark recognised worldwide .

But the halal certification is not the end of the initiative to educate and ensure Muslims have access to halalan toyyiban food . Although Malaysian Muslim society is overly sensitive about selecting halal food products , many do not consider the toyyib aspects of the food they consume .

As such , having a rating system that goes beyond and above by covering various facets of toyyib is crucial . The rating system could complement our existing halal certification system by guiding consumers to choose from entities that engage in quality products and services in line with the holistic halalan toyyiban concept .

The holistic HALALan TOYYIBan rating could be based on stars , crescents , or indexes . But what matters most is that it reflects our needs and requirements and promotes our values as Muslims - staying true to our continuous strive to be physically , ethically and spiritually strong Muslims for the foundation of a strong community and humanity .