This article explains how inspections and ratings work under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. It is written for restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels and other food businesses.
The article describes the position in England. The Food Standards Agency's guidance also sets out different display and re-rating rules for Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who carries out a food hygiene inspection
The Food Standards Agency runs the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in partnership with local authorities. A food safety officer from the local authority carries out the inspection, which for businesses in Bristol is Bristol City Council.
The FSA states that each local authority plans a programme of inspections every year, and that the frequency depends on the potential risk to public health. The time between inspections varies from six months for the highest risk businesses to two years for lower risk businesses.
The three elements inspectors check
According to the FSA, the officer checks:
- how hygienically the food is handled: how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
- the physical condition of the business: including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control and other facilities
- how food safety is managed: the processes, training and systems used to make sure good hygiene is maintained
The FSA states that, to get the top rating of 5, a business must do well in all three elements.
The food hygiene rating scale
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| 5 | Hygiene standards are very good |
| 4 | Hygiene standards are good |
| 3 | Hygiene standards are generally satisfactory |
| 2 | Some improvement is necessary |
| 1 | Major improvement is necessary |
| 0 | Urgent improvement is necessary |
The FSA describes the rating as a snapshot of the standards found at the time of inspection. The business is told its rating in writing, either at the inspection or within 14 days.
Publishing and displaying the rating
The FSA states that ratings of 5 are published on the food hygiene ratings website as soon as the local authority uploads them. Ratings of 0 to 4 are published 3 to 5 weeks after the inspection, to allow time for an appeal.
In England, businesses can choose to display their rating in a window or door. In Wales and Northern Ireland, businesses are legally required to display it at or near each customer entrance.
Appeals, right to reply and re-rating
The FSA lists three safeguards for businesses:
- Appeal: made in writing within 21 days of being notified of the rating. The officer who gave the rating does not consider the appeal.
- Right to reply: a written response, published alongside the rating, explaining improvements made or unusual circumstances at the time of inspection.
- Re-rating inspection: available to businesses that did not receive a 5, once they have accepted the rating and made the improvements the officer recommended. Some local authorities in England charge a fee for this.
The FSA notes that a re-rating inspection looks at standards generally, not only at the areas that have been improved, so the rating could go up, down or stay the same.
Where cleaning fits in
Cleanliness is named in the second of the three elements, the physical condition of the business. The FSA guidance also lists cleanliness of facilities among the areas of food hygiene law a business must follow at all times, not only on the day of inspection.
The FSA's guidance on why cleaning is important explains that detergents remove grease but do not kill bacteria or viruses, while disinfectants must be used on a visibly clean surface for the specified contact time to be effective.
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