Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Overview

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency. The scheme provides a rating between 5 and 0 for food businesses dependent on food hygiene standards found by an officer during an inspection. The ratings are:

Compliant businesses

5 = Very good
4 = Good
3 = Satisfactory

Non-compliant businesses

2 = Improvement necessary
1 = Major improvement necessary
0 = Urgent improvement necessary

Food businesses which supply food directly to the consumer will be included within the scheme, such as restaurants, takeaways, public houses (including wet sales only), hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, retail shops including corner shops and supermarkets, schools and nurseries, care and nursing homes, lunch clubs, mobile caterers and home caterers such as cake and chutney makers.

Businesses will not be included if they do not sell food directly to the consumer such as food manufacturers and cash and carries who only sell to businesses. Other low risk businesses may also be exempt such as chemists and newsagents which only sell pre-packaged low risk foods, vending machines, childminders and businesses such as village and church halls which are hired out or only serve hot drinks and shop brought biscuits.

The rating is based on three areas:

• Food hygiene and safety procedures - how hygienically the food is handled, how it is prepared, cooked, cooled, stored, and what measures are taken to prevent food being contaminated with bacteria, chemicals and foreign bodies.
• Structural requirements - the condition of the structure of the premises including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, availability of hot and cold water, equipment and other facilities.      
• Confidence in management - how you manage and record what you do to make sure food is safe using a food safety management system.

Food businesses will be given a score in each area using national guidance issued by the Food Standards Agency.  

The rating given depends on how well the business does in all three areas and the total score. It also depends on the areas that need improving the most - the business may do better in some areas and less well in others. To get the top rating, you must score no more than 5 in each of the three areas. A higher score results in a lower food hygiene rating. All businesses are able to get the top rating.

Food businesses will automatically get a new rating at each planned inspection.

How to find your rating

You can find your rating on the Food Standards Agency website.

Find a food hygiene rating

Publication of ratings

The time it takes for food hygiene ratings to be published depends on the rating that is awarded:

5 = rated food businesses

The rating will be published on the Food Standards Agency - Food hygiene ratings website approximately two weeks from the date of the inspection letter.

0 to 4 = rated food businesses

The rating will be published on the Food Standards Agency - Food hygiene ratings website approximately five weeks from the date of the inspection letter. This is after the appeal period has passed.

If you are happy with your rating and would like your rating to be published earlier, complete the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: Consent for early publication of rating form. The form can be returned by post or email to the inspecting officer.

There is no fee for requesting your score is published early.

For further information, please see our upload criteria.

Safeguards

In order to ensure that the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is fair to food businesses, there are three safeguards:

1. Right to appeal

If you think the rating is wrong or unfair you can appeal against the rating. This must be done within 21 days following the date of your letter.

2. Request a rescore

After you have addressed the issues in your inspection letter you can request a rescore for your hygiene rating to reassessed. There is a fee of £203 for each rescore request.

3. Right to reply

This allows you to submit a statement which is published on the Food Standards Agency - Food hygiene ratings website alongside your rating explaining any unusual circumstances or improvements you have made since your inspection.

Right to appeal

Food businesses will be notified of their hygiene rating in writing after their inspection and they will have 21 days to appeal the rating if they feel the rating is unjust. The lead officer will review the food hygiene rating and in the meantime the rating will not be published. A decision will be made within 21 days of us receiving the form and the business will be notified of the outcome. The hygiene rating will then be published on the Food Standards Agency - Food hygiene ratings website. If the business does not agree with the result of the appeal, they can challenge the decision by judicial review.

How to apply

The business should first speak to the inspecting officer so that they can explain how the food hygiene rating was calculated.

If they still think the rating is unjust, an appeal can be lodged by submitting a completed copy of the Food Safety Business Appeal Form outlining why you disagree with the rating. The form can be returned by post or email to foodandsafety.duty@derby.gov.uk. 

Paper copies of forms are available on request.

Rescore

Once the food business operator has taken action to correct any issues raised as a result of the inspection, they are entitled to apply to be re-scored. This request can be made at any time and an unannounced revisit will be carried out in line with our Rescore Timescale Request Procedure as long as the food business operator has provided sufficient evidence that the required improvements have been made. There are no limits on how many times a food business operator can apply for a re-score. There is a charge of £203 for each re-score application. The Council can refuse to undertake the revisit if the case made by the food business operator is not substantiated or if insufficient evidence is provided. You can only apply for a rescore after you have received an inspection.

Please note, new businesses cannot apply for a rescore until after the first inspection. Refunds will not be issued for any payments made.

How to apply

1. The food business operator must apply by submitting the Food Safety - Business revisit request form. The form can be returned by post or by email to foodandsafety.duty@derby.gov.uk.
2. The fee of £203 must be paid before returning the form, otherwise, the application will not be accepted. Pay to request a re-score.

Paper copies of forms are available on request.

Right to reply

The right to reply allows food businesses to explain to their customers the actions they have taken since the inspection to improve food hygiene standards. It also lets them explain if there were any unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection and how this had affected the rating. The comments will be published on the food hygiene rating scheme’s website alongside the businesses' food hygiene rating. There is no time limit for submitting comments. Right to reply cannot be used to criticise the scheme, your inspection or the officer who carried out your inspection. The comments made may be edited to remove any offensive, defamatory or clearly inaccurate or irrelevant remarks before they are published.

How to apply

Comments need to be made in writing using the Food Safety - Business right to reply form. This can be returned by post or email to the inspecting officer at foodandsafety.duty@derby.gov.uk. Comments can also be submitted to the inspecting officer by email or letter.

Paper copies of forms are available on request.

Improve and promote ratings

There are steps you can take to improve your food hygiene rating:

• Read your last food hygiene inspection report and make sure that you have addressed all the points included within the Legal Requirements Schedule. If you have any queries, contact the food safety officer for help.
• Ensure you have implemented controls relating to the E. coli O157 guidance, the
  E. coli checklist will help you.
• Make sure that you have a written food management system that reflects your current business operation. The Food Standards Agency have produced a pack called Safer Food Better Business to assist with this. The Safer Food Better, Business Pack can be downloaded from the Food Standards Agency website or you can buy a copy from us.
• Make sure that your food handlers are following your food management system at all times.
• You can also carry out your own inspection by completing the self-assessment checklist.

Business advice and information can be found by visiting our Business advice page and E. coli O157 guidance page.

Promoting your good hygiene rating

You will receive a rating window sticker which you can display at the entrance to your business. Businesses currently do not have to display their window sticker by law although it is possible this may change in the future.

If you do display your sticker you must ensure it is your most recent rating. Please note, if you display or use an incorrect rating at your premises or within your advertising this may constitute an offence under trading standards legislation.

The Food Standards Agency have produced an online toolkit which offers ideas on how to promote your food hygiene rating to increase the number of customers who visit your business. This includes videos and downloads such as window stickers, banners and graphics for websites and menus.