Food hygiene rating scheme
The food hygiene rating scheme helps you choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving information about the hygiene standards in restaurants, pubs, cafes, takeaways, hotels, and other places where food is eaten. Supermarkets and other food shops are also included in the scheme.
Each food business is given a hygiene rating when it is inspected by an Environmental Health Officer. The hygiene rating shows how closely the business is meeting the requirements of food hygiene law. The rating is displayed on a website and by a sticker and certificate in the windows of food businesses.
So when you eat out or shop for food, you might see a sticker in the window or on the door showing you the hygiene rating for that business. It is not mandatory for them to display the rating but good food premises will be proud to display their rating; whilst poor premises will be unable to hide because their details will be available online. Ratings are on a scale of 0 - 5.
0 = Urgent improvement necessary
1 = Major improvement necessary
2 = Improvement necessary
3 = Generally satisfactory
4 = Good
5 = Very good
You can access food hygiene ratings on the move, for free via the website optimised for mobile use.
Food hygiene rating scheme - information for business
As part of the scheme a guide has been produced to assist food business operators - Information for Business. This guide also includes instructions on how to make an appeal, request a revisit to make a right to reply comment. Forms to request revisit, lodge an appeal or submit a Right to Reply comment.
