The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in restaurants, takeaways and food shops.
The FHRS is run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the FHIS in Scotland. The schemes encourage businesses to improve hygiene standards. The overarching aim is to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness. The FHRS is now running in all areas of Wales and Northern Ireland and in 99% of England.
Some places where you might eat away from home or buy food are not given a rating. This is generally because they are a low risk to people’s health, for example, a newsagent selling only wrapped sweets. Childminders and businesses that offer caring services at home are not given ratings too.
You can find out businesses ratings through the following link http://ratings.food.gov.uk/.
A food safety officer inspects a business to check that it meets the requirements of food hygiene law. The officer is from the local authority where the business is located.
Each of these three elements is essential for making sure that food hygiene standards meet requirements and the food served or sold to you is safe to eat.
The hygiene standards found at the time of inspection are then rated on a scale. At the bottom of the scale is ‘0’ – this means urgent improvement is required. At the top of the scale is ‘5’ – this means the hygiene standards are very good.
If you are a business owner and you are unhappy with your food rating you should speak to the local authority food officer that inspected your premises.
Businesses do not have to display their rating unless they are based in Northern Ireland or Wales where it is mandatory. Whether mandatory or not it is good to advertise your rating and show consumers that you are meeting the requirements of food hygiene law. Some businesses may have 'awaiting inspection' in their window, this may be because it is a new company or because the business has a new owner.
If your business has a low rating we can support you with improving this by:
The need for businesses to display their food hygiene rating is very likely to soon become mandatory in England too.