The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme provides customers and members of the public with a simple guide to show how food businesses are complying with food hygiene requirements. This is a national scheme allowing anyone to check ratings of premises throughout the country. At the end of each inspection, the business is given a score in each of eight categories, three of which make up the final rating. The total score for those three categories translates into the rating for the business which can range from zero (urgent improvement necessary) to five (very good). You can find out more about how the ratings are given on the Food Standards Agency website.
Businesses are provided with a window sticker which they are encouraged to display at the entrance of their premises to promote their food hygiene rating. Ratings are uploaded to the Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme website within 21 days of the inspection being carried out.
Businesses achieving a three (generally satisfactory), four (good) or five (very good) rating are considered ‘broadly compliant’, and generally no further action will be taken until the next routine inspection is due. We work closely with any business achieving a zero (urgent improvement necessary), one (major improvement necessary), or two (improvement necessary) rating to ensure that standards improve. In some circumstances this may require formal action to be taken to achieve compliance.
The Food Hygiene Rating relates only to hygiene standards in the food business - it is not about the quality of the food or the standard of service provided to customers.
Search for a food hygiene rating
Right of appeal
If the business disagrees with the rating given, they have a right to appeal and should contact the inspecting officer to discuss their concerns in the first instance. If the business owner or manager still thinks that the rating is unfair or wrong, they can appeal in writing to our Assistant Manager for Food, Safety and Licensing. Details on how to appeal can be found on the Food Standards Agency's Information note for food businesses in England.
Right to reply
Business may wish to tell customers how they have improved their hygiene standards or if there were unusual circumstances at the time of inspection. The response will be published online, alongside their rating. The Food Standards Agency's 'Right to reply' form contains details on the submission process.
Food Hygiene Rating Request for Rescore Inspection
If a food business receives a food hygiene rating of less than 5 and has completed all the improvements identified by the inspecting officer, it may request a rescore inspection by submitting the online Request a Rescore form. A fee is payable for this service, and the rescore inspection will not be carried out until the payment has been received.
Request a Rescore
When completing the application form, businesses must provide evidence demonstrating that the required improvements have been made. This may include photographs, certificates, and details of any works completed.
Once the request has been accepted, a different officer will carry out an unannounced full food hygiene inspection to determine the new rating. It is important to note that no new contraventions should be identified during this inspection, as this may affect the outcome. The rating will not automatically increase simply because a rescore has been requested.
‘Confidence in Management’ is a key part of the overall rating. If the original low rating was due to poor Confidence in Management, it is unlikely that a rating of 5 (very good) will be awarded at the rescore stage, as sustained improvements must be demonstrated over time.
All rescore requests are reviewed by the Food and Safety Manager. A request may be refused if insufficient evidence of improvements is provided, if not enough time has passed for Confidence in Management to reasonably improve, or if there are other factors indicating that the rating is unlikely to change.
Read our guidance on how to improve your food hygiene rating
