Check Food Hygiene Ratings first

A food hygiene rating shows the standards of food hygiene found at a food business at the time of its latest inspection. Ratings help consumers make informed choices about where they eat or buy food and can apply to restaurants, takeaways, cafés, pubs, supermarkets and many other businesses that serve or sell food. The rating relates to food hygiene standards rather than the quality of the food, customer service or the overall experience offered by the business.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Following an inspection by a local authority food safety officer, eligible businesses receive a food hygiene rating from 0 to 5 based on the standards found at the time. A rating of 5 represents very good hygiene standards, while lower ratings indicate that improvements are required. Scotland operates a separate Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS), which uses a different rating system.

Food hygiene ratings provide a simple indication of the hygiene standards found during an inspection. The ratings used under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme are:

• 5 – Very good
• 4 – Good
• 3 – Generally satisfactory
• 2 – Some improvement is necessary
• 1 – Major improvement is necessary
• 0 – Urgent improvement is necessary

A rating reflects the standards found at the time of the inspection. It should not be interpreted as a review of the quality or taste of the food served by the business.

During a food hygiene inspection, an authorised local authority officer considers three main areas. These are how hygienically food is handled, including its preparation, cooking, cooling and storage; the physical condition and cleanliness of the premises and facilities, including matters such as pest control and ventilation; and how effectively the business manages food safety. This includes the processes, systems and training in place to maintain appropriate hygiene standards in the future.

There is no single fixed period after which every food business receives a new food hygiene rating. Ratings are based on the standards found during an inspection, and the frequency of inspections can vary depending on factors such as the type of business and the potential risk to consumers. A business may also be inspected again following changes or where a reassessment is appropriate. This means a published rating represents the result of the relevant inspection rather than a continuously updated assessment of the business.

The food hygiene ratings and establishment information displayed on FoodHygieneRating.org are sourced from official Food Standards Agency public data. The data contains information supplied through local authorities and covers businesses participating in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Food Hygiene Information Scheme in Scotland. FoodHygieneRating.org is an independent website and is not operated by or affiliated with the Food Standards Agency or UK Government. You can find more information about how we source and present ratings on our Our Data page.

To achieve a food hygiene rating of 5, a business must demonstrate very good food hygiene standards when it is inspected. The inspecting officer considers hygienic food handling, the cleanliness and physical condition of the premises and facilities, and how effectively food safety is managed. This means businesses need appropriate procedures for preparing, cooking and storing food, clean and well-maintained premises, and effective food safety management systems and training. The rating is based on the standards found by the local authority officer at the time of inspection.