Restaurants, pubs and takeaways are coming under renewed pressure to clean up their act, or face public embarrassment.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is considering forcing food outlets to display the results of hygiene inspections in visible parts of their premises - possibly even on the front door.
Health chiefs will discuss this new weapon at the organisation's annual conference in Torquay this week. If approved, food retailers will have to display inspection results whether they be good, bad or indifferent.
Jenny Morris, a CIEH policy officer, said: "This type of 'scores on doors' scheme is used widely across the US and a similar scheme has recently been introduced in Toronto, Canada where it has been warmly welcomed by consumers and regulators.
She went on: "Closer to the UK, Denmark operates a Smiley scheme whereby food premises that practice good hygiene are given a happy face and those that don't are given a sad face.
"Armed with this basic information, UK consumers would be able to exercise choice about where they eat based not only on the menu but also on knowing how conscientious the restaurants are in maintaining good food hygiene."
In the US, premises have to display a scorecard with capital letters A - E indicating the level of hygiene standards at the premises. A indicates high standards of food safety and hygiene and E poor standards.
A similar - though less punishing - scheme is already underway in Greenwich, whereby the local council awards merits to businesses that comply with safety standards.
Businesses are then able to display certificates within their premises, while their achievement is also published on the council's website.
Businesses that do not comply with the standards will not be given an award and this too is published on the website. They are also subject to normal enforcement action to make the necessary improvements and comply with legal requirements.