The Food Hygiene Rating scheme, run in partnership with local authorities, gives businesses a rating from five to zero to help consumers make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.

Ratings are worked out by environmental health officers, employed by the council, who inspect the business to check it meets the requirements of food hygiene law.

At the inspection, the environmental health officer will check for three elements:

  • Compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures: how hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored.

  • Compliance with structural requirements: the physical condition of the business – including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control and other facilities.

  • Confidence in management control/procedures: how the business manages ways of keeping food safe, looking at processes, training and systems to ensure good hygiene is maintained.

Officers will also discuss any problems with the operator and provide advice on good practice. Following the inspection a written inspection report, including any further action officers intend to take, is sent to the business.

When a business receives a poor rating, local authorities give advice and guidance to make sure that necessary improvements are made and have several enforcement options available.

This includes temporarily closing the business if there is an imminent risk to public health where food may be unsafe to eat.