The Food Hygiene Rating scheme helps you choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving you clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards.
The scheme is run by all local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.
Most food businesses are included in the scheme but some, such as low risk premises which only sell pre-wrapped confectionery, are not. The scheme also does not cover manufacturers and processors where trade is principally business to business.
The food hygiene rating given to a business reflects the food hygiene standards found at the time of the inspection by Environmental Health officers. The hygiene rating is not a guide to food quality or service. All inspections and visits are undertaken in line with the Food Standards Agency code of practice.
The ratings awarded range from ‘5 - very good’ down to ‘0 -urgent improvement needed’, with 3 representing a business that is broadly compliant.
When we score a business, we look at:
After an inspection, the rating is calculated against Food Safety, Structure and Cleaning, and the Confidence in the Management to maintain or improve standards.
Any business can achieve the top rating of 5. If a 5 rating has not been achieved, the officer will outline the improvements needed to achieve a higher rating. The business will be informed of the result in writing and that rating will be uploaded to the Food Hygiene Ratings website.
Ratings of '5 - very good' will be published as soon as the information is uploaded by your local authority. Ratings of 0 to 4 will be published 4 weeks after the date of inspection to allow for an appeal to be submitted.
More information on food ratings can be found on the Food Hygiene Rating for businesses website.
Businesses can request an appeal, have a 'right to reply' and can request a re-visit inspection from their local authority. Before considering which approach to take it is advisable to speak to the officer to understand why the rating was given.
If you believe that the rating given is wrong, or that the inspection was not carried out correctly, then you can appeal the rating. The appeal must be made within 21 days of you being notified of the rating. The appeal will be considered by the lead food officer. They will consider the inspection report against the appeal details and will not necessarily visit the premises.
Food hygiene rating appeal form
If you have carried out all the work required by the inspector following an inspection, you may request a re-score inspection.
There is a charge of £156.00 which must accompany any application.
Your application must detail all the work undertaken to address the matters detailed on the last food hygiene rating letter. If you have not provided enough information, the officer may reject the application.
Request a food hygiene rating re-visit
The right to reply allows businesses to tell the customers how the business has improved its hygiene standards, or if there were unusual circumstances at the time of inspection. This response will be published online, alongside the rating.
Food hygiene right to reply form
Food Standards Agency: Displaying your rating is good for business
Food Standards Agency: It is good for your business - how to get the most out of your hygiene rating
Food Standards Agency: Displaying your food hygiene rating on your website or app
All businesses should be able to achieve the top rating of 5. If they do not, we will outline the improvements that they need to make and advise on how to achieve a higher rating.
The Food Standards Agency provides business guidance to help manage food hygiene and helpful information about food law inspections.
For more information email foodandsafety@eastcambs.gov.uk or call 01353 665555.