Food Hygiene Ratings: How the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Works

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helps consumers make informed choices about where they eat, shop for food or order takeaway meals.

The Food Standards Agency, commonly known as the FSA, operates the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, Food Standards Scotland and local authorities operate a separate system called the Food Hygiene Information Scheme.

What Is the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme?

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, or FHRS, provides information about the hygiene standards found at a food business during its most recent local authority inspection.

The scheme is designed to:

• Help consumers decide where to eat or buy food
• Provide greater transparency about food hygiene standards
• Encourage food businesses to improve
• Recognise businesses that maintain good standards
• Support the consistent application of food hygiene law
• Help protect public health

Who Carries Out Food Hygiene Inspections?

Food hygiene inspections are carried out by suitably qualified and authorised officers from the local authority. These may include Environmental Health Officers and other food safety officers.

During an inspection, the officer assesses how food is:

• Handled
• Prepared
• Cooked
• Reheated
• Cooled
• Stored
• Displayed
• Served

The officer will also consider the condition of the premises and how effectively the business manages food safety.

What Does a Food Hygiene Rating Measure?

A food hygiene rating reflects the standards found at the time of the inspection. It is a snapshot of how well the business was complying with food hygiene law on that particular date.

The rating does not assess:

• The quality or taste of the food
• Customer service
• Value for money
• Waiting times
• The range of food available
• Online customer reviews

It specifically relates to food hygiene and the systems used to manage food safety.

What Do Food Hygiene Ratings from 0 to 5 Mean?

Food businesses included in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme receive a rating between 0 and 5.

• 5 – Very good: hygiene standards are very good.
• 4 – Good: hygiene standards are good.
• 3 – Generally satisfactory: hygiene standards are generally satisfactory.
• 2 – Some improvement necessary: some improvements must be made.
• 1 – Major improvement necessary: significant improvements are required.
• 0 – Urgent improvement necessary: urgent action is required.

A rating of 5 is the highest food hygiene rating, while a rating of 0 means urgent improvement is necessary.

The Three Areas Assessed During an Inspection

The food hygiene rating is based on three main areas.

1. Hygienic Handling of Food

The officer assesses how safely food is handled throughout the business. This includes:

• Food preparation
• Cooking
• Reheating
• Cooling
• Chilled and frozen storage
• Hot holding
• Avoiding cross-contamination
• Personal hygiene

2. Condition of the Premises

The officer assesses the physical condition and cleanliness of the premises, including:

• Layout and available space
• Cleanliness
• Lighting
• Ventilation
• Handwashing facilities
• Food-washing and equipment-cleaning facilities
• Equipment condition
• Waste management
• Pest prevention and control
• Structural repair and maintenance

3. Management of Food Safety

The officer assesses whether the business has suitable procedures to keep food safe and whether management can demonstrate that these procedures are followed consistently.

This includes:

• HACCP-based food safety procedures
• Safer Food, Better Business or an equivalent system
• Staff instruction, training and supervision
• Cleaning schedules
• Temperature checks and records
• Allergen controls
• Opening and closing checks
• Corrective action when problems occur
• Confidence that good standards will be maintained

Which Businesses Receive Food Hygiene Ratings?

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme applies to many businesses that supply food directly to consumers.

These include:

• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Takeaways
• Pubs and bars serving food
• Sandwich shops
• Hotels and guest houses
• Catering businesses
• Mobile food businesses
• Supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Bakeries
• Delicatessens
• Schools and nurseries
• Hospitals
• Care homes
• Workplace canteens
• Other places where food is prepared, sold or served

Home-based food businesses may also be inspected and included in the scheme when they fall within its scope.

Food Businesses That May Be Exempt or Excluded

Some businesses may be exempt from receiving a numerical rating or may fall outside the scope of the scheme.

This may include certain businesses that present a very low risk to public health, such as those selling only:

• Prepacked shelf-stable food
• Wrapped sweets
• Biscuits and similar packaged products
• Other foods that do not normally require temperature control

Some businesses do not supply food directly to consumers and may therefore be excluded from the scheme even though they remain subject to food safety law and local authority inspection.

An exemption from receiving a public rating does not remove a business’s responsibility to comply with food hygiene legislation.

How to Check a Food Hygiene Rating

Consumers can check a business’s food hygiene rating through the official food hygiene ratings website.

The online information may include:

• The name of the business
• The business address
• The type of food business
• The date of the inspection
• The food hygiene rating
• The local authority responsible for the inspection

Checking the rating can provide useful information about hygiene standards in kitchens, food stores and preparation areas that customers do not normally see.

Displaying Food Hygiene Ratings in England

In England, displaying the food hygiene rating sticker at the premises is currently voluntary.

Businesses are encouraged to display their rating where customers can see it easily, such as:

• In the front window
• On the entrance door
• Near the till or service counter
• On the business website
• On social media pages
• On online ordering platforms

A displayed rating should match the current rating published on the official website.

Displaying Food Hygiene Ratings in Wales

Food businesses in Wales are legally required to display their food hygiene rating in a visible position at or near each customer entrance.

The sticker must be positioned where customers can easily read it before entering the premises while it is open for business.

Certain takeaway menus and promotional materials that allow customers to order without visiting the premises must also include the required bilingual statement directing customers to the food hygiene ratings website.

Displaying Food Hygiene Ratings in Northern Ireland

Food businesses in Northern Ireland are legally required to display their rating at or near each customer entrance.

The sticker must be clearly visible and easy for customers to read before entering the premises.

Businesses must also provide their current rating verbally when asked in person or over the telephone.

Food Hygiene Ratings in Scotland

Scotland uses the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, or FHIS, rather than the 0-to-5 rating system.

Businesses may receive one of the following results:

• Pass: the business broadly meets the legal requirements for food hygiene.
• Improvement Required: the business has failed to meet the required standards and must make improvements.
• Exempt Premises: the business has been inspected and meets the pass criteria but is considered low risk and does not meet the criteria for full inclusion in the scheme.
• Awaiting Inspection: the business has not yet received its inspection result, often because it is new or has changed ownership.

Food Hygiene Information Scheme results can be checked through the Food Standards Scotland website.

Why Appearance Can Be Misleading

A food business may look clean and professional in customer-facing areas, but this does not necessarily indicate what conditions are like behind the scenes.

The food hygiene rating considers areas that customers may not normally see, including:

• Kitchens
• Food storage rooms
• Refrigerators and freezers
• Food preparation surfaces
• Staff handwashing facilities
• Waste storage areas
• Pest-control arrangements
• Food safety records

The official rating is based on evidence found during an inspection, not simply on the appearance of the dining area or shop.

When Are Food Hygiene Ratings Published?

A rating of 5 – very good may be published as soon as the local authority uploads the information.

Ratings from 0 to 4 are normally published after the appeal period. This allows the business time to challenge a rating if it believes the decision is incorrect.

A business can ask for its rating to be published earlier if it does not intend to appeal.

Can a Business Appeal a Food Hygiene Rating?

A food business can appeal if it believes that its rating does not accurately reflect the hygiene standards found during the inspection.

The appeal must be submitted to the local authority within the relevant timescale and using the required process.

The business should explain why it considers the rating to be incorrect and provide relevant supporting information.

What Is the Right to Reply?

The right to reply allows a business to explain:

• Actions taken to improve hygiene standards
• Unusual circumstances that existed at the time of the inspection
• Relevant information it wants consumers to consider

The right to reply does not change the rating, but the response may be published alongside the rating.

Requesting a Food Hygiene Revisit

If a business has completed the required improvements, it may be able to ask the local authority to carry out another inspection to reassess its rating.

Before requesting a revisit, the business should:

• Complete all necessary improvements
• Review its food safety management system
• Train or retrain staff where required
• Gather evidence of the work completed
• Ensure the improvements are being maintained

The local authority may charge a fee for a requested revisit, depending on the rules applying in that part of the UK.

A revisit can result in a higher, lower or unchanged rating because the business will be assessed on the standards found at the time.

How Can a Business Improve Its Food Hygiene Rating?

Food businesses can improve their rating by maintaining high standards consistently rather than making temporary changes before an inspection.

Important actions include:

• Keeping premises and equipment clean and well maintained
• Preventing cross-contamination
• Controlling chilled and hot food temperatures
• Maintaining effective pest controls
• Managing allergens correctly
• Training and supervising staff
• Maintaining accurate food safety records
• Following HACCP-based procedures
• Completing corrective action promptly
• Reviewing food safety systems regularly

Why Food Hygiene Ratings Matter

A poor food hygiene rating can reduce customer confidence and may indicate that improvements are required.

A high rating can:

• Demonstrate a commitment to food safety
• Increase customer confidence
• Support the reputation of the business
• Encourage staff to maintain good standards
• Provide a competitive advantage

However, a high rating must be supported by good hygiene practices every day. It should never lead to complacency.

Using Food Hygiene Ratings to Make Informed Choices

Food hygiene ratings provide valuable information for consumers and encourage businesses to maintain higher standards.

By checking the current rating before eating out, buying food or ordering a takeaway, consumers can make better-informed decisions about where they choose to purchase food.