Food hygiene inspections and your business
Food hygiene inspections
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) or Food Safety Officers have a legal right to enter and inspect food premises without having to make an appointment or give advanced notice. The frequency of our visits depends on:
- what type of food is handled
- people at risk
- how the business is managed
- the condition of the premises at the time of the last inspection
- the way the business is managed
What happens during an inspection
Officers may take samples and photographs and inspect records. Our officers may make recommendations for improvement and discuss time scales within which the work must be completed. We may revisit to check on your progress.
If the conditions found at the time of the inspection pose a risk to the public, officers may serve a hygiene emergency prohibition notice to impose prohibitions on the business, processes or equipment. In a serious case, our officers may also recommend prosecution.
Appeals
You cannot appeal against an inspection, however, if you are unhappy with the way the officer conducted the inspection you can contact the food safety team leader and if you are still not satisfied you can make a formal complaint.
If you are served with a Hygiene Improvement Notice (HIN) you must appeal to a magistrates court. A magistrate must confirm an emergency closure of a business or seizure of food. If it is decided that a premise has been shut without proper reason or food has been wrongly taken away, you have a right to compensation.
Food hygiene rating scheme
We use the food hygiene rating scheme to rate the hygiene standards of a food business. The scheme is run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Visit the food hygiene ratings schemes web page on the FSA website to learn more.
Page last updated: 10 April 2024
