Food Hygiene Rating: A Simple Guide for Restaurants and Takeaways

Your food hygiene rating is a score from 0 to 5. It tells customers how clean and safe your kitchen is. A council officer gives you the score after they visit your business.

Customers check this score before they eat with you or order from you. A 5 helps you win customers. A low score can push them away.

Quick answer: 5 is the best score and 0 is the worst. You can check any score for free on the official website. If you think your score is unfair, you have 21 days to appeal.

What does my score mean?

• 5 – Very good: Well done. Keep it up.
• 4 – Good: Nearly there. A few small things to fix.
• 3 – Generally satisfactory: OK, but customers may think twice.
• 2 – Some improvement is necessary: You have problems to fix.
• 1 – Major improvement is necessary: You have serious problems to fix.
• 0 – Urgent improvement is necessary: Fix things now. The council may take action.

The Food Standards Agency says every business should be able to get a 5. (Food Standards Agency)

How does the inspector decide my score?

The inspector looks at three things:

1. How you handle food. Do you cook, cool, reheat and store food safely?
2. The state of your kitchen. Is it clean? Is it in good repair? Is there good light and fresh air? Is there a proper sink for washing hands?
3. How you manage food safety. Do you have a written plan? Do you keep daily records, like fridge temperatures and cleaning checks? Are your staff trained?

To get a 5, you must do well in all three. A clean kitchen is not enough on its own. You can still get a low score if you have no paperwork. (Food Standards Agency)

How do I check my score?

Go to ratings.food.gov.uk. Type in your business name or postcode. It is free, and anyone can check any business.

When does a new score go online?

• If you get a 5: it goes online straight away.
• If you get 0 to 4: it goes online 3 to 5 weeks after the visit. This gives you time to appeal first.

Do I have to put the sticker in my window?

• In England: No, it is your choice. But if you have a good score, show it. Customers trust it.
• In Wales: Yes, it is the law. You must show the sticker at or near every customer entrance. Takeaways must also print a statement in English and Welsh telling customers where to find the rating online.

(Food Standards Agency)

I got a low score. What can I do?

You have three options. You can use more than one.

1. Appeal (if you think the score is wrong)

You have 21 days from the day the council tells you your score. Weekends and bank holidays count, so do not wait. A different officer looks at your appeal. You get an answer within 21 days. (Appeal form for England)

2. Right to reply (if you want to explain)

You can write a short note about your score, for example what you have already fixed. The council can put it online next to your score. There is no deadline. (Right to reply form for England)

3. Ask for a new visit (once you have fixed the problems)

Fix everything the inspector told you to fix. Then ask the council to come back and give you a new score.

• Free option (England): you can ask once between normal inspections. If you ask within 3 months of your score, the visit can take up to 6 months. If you ask later, it should happen within 3 months.
• Paid option (England): some councils charge a fee. Then the visit should happen within 3 months.
• Wales: all councils charge a fee. The visit happens within 3 months.

The council will not tell you the date of the visit. Be ready every day. Your new score can go up, but it can also go down. (Re-visit request form for England)

Simple tips to get a 5

• Get a food safety plan. Small businesses can use the Safer Food, Better Business pack from the Food Standards Agency. (GOV.UK)
• Fill in your diary every day. Write down fridge temperatures, cooking checks and cleaning. No records means no proof.
• Train your staff. Everyone who handles food should know the basics. A Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate is the usual standard.
• Keep raw and cooked food apart. Use separate boards, knives and fridge shelves.
• Keep the hand-wash sink free. Soap, hot water and paper towels. Never use it for washing dishes or food.
• Fix broken things. Cracked tiles, broken seals on fridges and holes in walls all count against you.
• Keep pests out. Close gaps under doors and keep food covered.
• Label your food. Write the date on food in the fridge and freezer.

Print this list and stick it in your kitchen. Tick it off every week.

How Anka Group can help

We run the Food Safety and Hygiene course in English and Turkish. We can also help you get ready for your next inspection or prepare an appeal.

Call or WhatsApp us on +44 7378 501348, or contact us here for a free consultation.

By Elif Goksal - MIoL, Founder & Managing Director, Anka Advisory Group. This article is general information and not legal advice.