How Is Food Hygiene Rating Calculated

Calculate your potential food hygiene rating based on inspection criteria

How Is Food Hygiene Rating Calculated: Complete Guide

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected by local authority food safety officers.

Understanding the Rating System

The scheme is run by local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in partnership with the Food Standards Agency. Businesses are given a rating from 5 to 0 which is displayed at their premises and online.

• 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 required

The Three Key Areas Assessed

Food safety officers inspect three main elements during their visit:

1. Hygienic food handling – How hygienically the food is handled, prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
2. Physical condition of the business – The cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
3. Food safety management – How the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe

Scoring System Breakdown

The scoring system works as follows:

Category	Excellent (0-5)	Good (10-15)	Generally Satisfactory (20-25)	Improvement Necessary (30)	Major Improvement (40-50)
Hygienic food handling	0-5 points	10-15 points	20-25 points	30 points	40-50 points
Structural compliance	0-5 points	10-15 points	20-25 points	30 points	40-50 points
Confidence in management	0 points	0 points	0-5 points	10-15 points	20-30 points

The total score determines the rating:

Total Score	Rating	Description
0-15	5	Very good
20-25	4	Good
30-35	3	Generally satisfactory
40-50	2	Improvement necessary
55-80	1	Major improvement necessary
85+	0	Urgent improvement required

How Inspections Are Conducted

Food safety officers from the local authority carry out inspections without prior warning. The frequency of inspections depends on:

• The type of business
• The size of the business
• The previous hygiene rating
• The potential risk to public health

High-risk businesses (like restaurants handling raw meat) are inspected more frequently than low-risk businesses (like newsagents selling pre-packaged foods).

Appeals and Revisits

If a business disagrees with their rating, they can:

1. Request a revisit – If they’ve made improvements since the inspection
2. Appeal the rating – If they believe the rating is unfair or incorrect
3. Right to reply – Provide an explanation that will be published alongside the rating

Businesses can request a revisit at any time, but they’ll need to pay a fee if they haven’t made the necessary improvements.

Statistical Insights

According to the Food Standards Agency, as of 2023:

• Over 95% of food businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have a rating of 3 or above
• Only 1.5% of businesses have a rating of 0 or 1
• The most common rating is 5, held by 56% of businesses
• Takeaway and fast food outlets have the lowest average ratings compared to other food business types

Research from NHS Digital shows that foodborne illnesses cost the UK economy approximately £9 billion annually, highlighting the importance of maintaining high hygiene standards.

Improving Your Rating

To improve your food hygiene rating, focus on these key areas:

1. Staff training – Ensure all staff receive proper food hygiene training
2. Cleaning schedules – Implement and document regular cleaning routines
3. Temperature control – Monitor and record food temperatures
4. Pest control – Implement preventive measures and regular checks
5. Documentation – Keep accurate records of all food safety procedures

Businesses that achieve a rating of 5 often see increased customer trust and higher sales. According to a study by the Which? consumer organization, 94% of consumers check hygiene ratings before choosing where to eat.

Common Reasons for Low Ratings

The most frequent issues that lead to low hygiene ratings include:

• Poor hand washing facilities or practices
• Inadequate temperature control of high-risk foods
• Dirty food preparation areas or equipment
• Lack of proper food safety management systems
• Pest infestations or evidence of pests
• Poor personal hygiene of staff
• Inadequate training records

Addressing these common issues can significantly improve a business’s hygiene rating and reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Legal Requirements

All food businesses must comply with:

• The Food Safety Act 1990
• Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
• EU Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs
• EU Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 for businesses handling products of animal origin

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in enforcement action, including improvement notices, prohibition orders, or prosecution.

Displaying Your Rating

In Wales and Northern Ireland, it’s mandatory to display your food hygiene rating sticker at your business entrance. In England, while not mandatory, displaying your rating is strongly encouraged as it demonstrates transparency and can attract more customers.

Businesses can download their rating sticker from the Food Standards Agency website and print it for display.

Digital Hygiene Ratings

In addition to physical display, hygiene ratings are also available online through:

• The Food Standards Agency website
• Food delivery apps (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat)
• Google Maps and other mapping services
• TripAdvisor and other review sites

This digital presence means your hygiene rating can influence customers even before they visit your premises, making it more important than ever to maintain high standards.

Future Developments

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme continues to evolve. Recent and upcoming changes include:

• More frequent updates to ratings
• Enhanced digital integration with food delivery platforms
• Potential expansion to include allergen management in ratings
• Increased transparency in the appeals process

Businesses should stay informed about these developments to ensure they maintain compliance and achieve the best possible rating.