Food Hygiene Rating

The ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ is a local authority/Food Standards Agency partnership initiative. The national scheme provides consumers with information about hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected by local food safety officers to check compliance with legal requirements – the food hygiene rating given reflects the inspection findings.

The purpose is to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places where they eat out or shop for food, thereby encouraging businesses to improve their hygiene standards.

The hygiene standards found at the time of inspection are rated on a scale of “0” to “5”. 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.

By the end of June 2011 40% of local authorities in England will take part in this scheme. The food hygiene rating of a food business is displayed on the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings (opens an external hyperlink).