Food Standards Agency Scores

Food Standards Agency Hygiene Ratings

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is an independent government department dedicated to protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in relation to food across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The FSA runs the Hygiene Rating Scheme, which provides clear information about the hygiene standards of food establishments. This scheme is administered in collaboration with local authorities, which appoint food safety officers to conduct inspections.

Ratings Overview

Food hygiene ratings offer a snapshot of the hygiene standards at the time of inspection and are typically given to establishments where food is supplied, sold, or consumed, including:

• Restaurants, pubs, and cafes

• Takeaways, food vans, and stalls

• Canteens and hotels

• Supermarkets and food shops

• Schools, hospitals, and care homes

Inspection Criteria

Food safety officers inspect businesses to ensure compliance with food hygiene laws and verify that food is safe for consumption. They assess the following:

1. Food Handling: Preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling, and storage processes.

2. Physical Condition: Cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control, and facilities.

3. Management Practices: Processes, training, and systems in place to maintain hygiene standards.

The inspections culminate in one of the following ratings (outside Scotland):

• 0: Urgent improvement required

• 1: Major improvement necessary

• 2: Some improvement necessary

• 3: Generally satisfactory

• 4: Good

• 5: Very good

In Scotland, the ratings differ slightly:

• Pass: Broadly meets legal requirements.

• Improvement Required: Standards not met.

• Exempt Premises: Negligible food safety risk, exempt from rating display.

Display and Frequency of Ratings

• Displaying the hygiene rating is mandatory in Wales and Northern Ireland, while it remains voluntary in England. Scotland uses its own scheme under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS).

• Local authorities schedule inspections based on the potential risk to public health, with higher-risk businesses (e.g., butchers) inspected more frequently, often every six months. Lower-risk businesses (e.g., shops selling prepackaged goods) may be inspected every two years.

Exemptions

Certain businesses, such as newsagents and chemists selling pre-packaged, non-refrigerated goods, or childminders, may be inspected but are not given a formal rating.

Latest Developments

Recent updates to the Food Hygiene Rating Act 2024 have emphasised stricter compliance and digitalisation of ratings, improving public transparency and accountability. The government is also consulting on making hygiene rating displays mandatory in England to align with other UK nations.

Useful Links

• Food Standards Agency Official Website Provides detailed information on food safety, hygiene ratings, and inspection processes across the UK.

• Food Hygiene Ratings Act 2024 Consultation Covers the latest developments in hygiene rating legislation, including proposals for mandatory rating displays in England.

• Food Hygiene Ratings Search Tool Allows users to search for food hygiene ratings of specific businesses and understand their inspection outcomes.