Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

About the scheme

For many years local authorities have practiced a risk rated approach to the inspection of food premises. This enables them to prioritise resources and inspect higher risk premises more frequently.

A 'hygiene rating' shows how the business is meeting food hygiene legislation requirements. The following components create the score for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme:

• how hygienically the food is handled - how it's stored, prepared, cooked, re-heated, and cooled
• the condition of the food premise's structure - the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
• how the business manages likely problems with food they sell and what is does to ensure food safety

At the end of the inspection, the business will be given one of six ratings based on the above criteria:

5 - very good
4 - good
3 - generally satisfactory
2 - improvements necessary
1 - major improvement necessary
0 - urgent improvement necessary

The rating reflects the hygiene standards found on the date of inspection.

At the bottom of the scale is '0' this means urgent improvement is required. At the top of the scale is '5' this means hygiene standards are very good.

A rating shows how well the business is meeting legal requirements regarding food hygiene. It gives consumers an idea of what's going on in the kitchen or behind closed doors.

From April 2012, businesses will be informed of their rating in a letter and a sticker showing the hygiene rating provided for display on the premises. This is sent to businesses within 14 days of the date of inspection. Some food businesses may not be given a food hygiene rating sticker, but the hygiene rating will be displayed on the Food Standards Agency website. Ratings won't be published on the website until the appeal period (21 days after notification - see below) has passed.

Does a food business have to display its rating?

No, food premises in England do not need to display a food hygiene rating sticker, however they are encouraged to do so. If you see a business without a hygiene rating sticker, you can check the rating of a food business at the Food Standards Agency website or you will need to decide if you want to eat or buy food from there without knowing the hygiene standards. Displaying a hygiene rating is a good advertisement for businesses that meet the requirements of food hygiene law. A good food hygiene rating is good for business.

What does awaiting inspection mean?

New businesses that haven't received an inspection yet will be listed as 'awaiting inspection' at the Food Standards Agency website and will receive a display sticker to indicate this.

If a new business has been set up or there's a new owner, it won't have a food hygiene rating to begin with but can display a sticker or certificate that says 'awaiting inspection'. A rating will only be given after one of our food safety officers has inspected the business to check the hygiene standards. This is usually carried out within 28 days of the new business being registered.

What types of businesses are included?

The scheme generally includes businesses that supply food directly to the consumer, for example:

• restaurants
• cafes
• takeaways
• public houses (including wet sales only)
• hotels, guest houses and B&Bs
• supermarkets
• smaller retailers (eg corner shops and delicatessens)
• schools and nurseries
• residential care homes and nursing homes
• wholesalers who sell to the public
• village halls, social clubs and churches that have wet sales or that undertake their own food preparation (eg lunch clubs)
• market stalls
• mobile vendors
• home caterers

Private addresses that don't advertise to the public won't be listed on the website. In these cases, only the name of the food business will appear.

Businesses that don't supply food directly to the consumer are excluded from the scheme. They include:

• primary producers
• manufacturers and packers
• importers and exporters
• distributors and transporters

Other 'low risk' businesses, where the primary activity isn't food related may be exempt from the scheme. These may include:

• newsagents that only sell pre-packed confectionery
• visitor centres selling tins of biscuits or other wrapped low risk food
• leisure centres with vending machines only
• chemist shops selling pre-wrapped confectionery or health foods only
• village halls that hire businesses for catering purposes, or serve hot drinks and biscuits only
• childminders and other establishments providing care in a home setting

Exempt businesses won't receive a hygiene rating. However, the business name will be displayed on the Food Standards Agency website indicating that the business is exempt from the scheme. It's no longer possible for exempt business to opt in to the scheme, but this is being reviewed by the food standards agency. 

What can a business owner do if they think the rating given is unfair or wrong?

The owner or manager of the business should discuss the rating with the food safety officer who inspected the business. The inspector should explain why the rating was given and provide advice for the business to improve its rating in the future. The scheme does have some safeguards for businesses so as to be fair and transparent.

Page last updated: 13 June 2023