Food hygiene rating scheme
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a local authority and Food Standards Agency (FSA) partnership initiative.
The scheme provides consumers with information about the hygiene standards in food premises at the time the local authority food safety officer completes an inspection of the premises.
Appealing a food hygiene rating
A food business owner has the right to appeal a food hygiene rating following an inspection if they do not agree that the rating reflects the hygiene standards and management controls found at the time of the inspection.
The food business owner has 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) from the date of the notification letter to make an appeal.
We will review the rating given and communicate the outcome of the appeal within seven days.
Request a Revisit
As a food business owner you have the right to request a revisit if you want your establishment re-rated.
You can request a re-rating if or when you have taken action to fix the non-compliances identified in your previous inspection. You can make one request for a re-rating per each revisit.
Once your request is received along with sufficient evidence that you have made the required improvements, a revisit will be carried out within three months. A revisit currently costs £270.
You must provide details of the improvements made with your request, including supporting evidence where appropriate.
An officer will give you a new food hygiene rating based on the level of compliance that is found at the time of the revisit.
Please be aware that your rating could go up, down or remain the same.
Right to Reply
The food business owner has a ‘right to reply’ to a food hygiene rating given following an inspection.
The purpose is to allow the business owner to give an explanation of actions that have been taken to make the required improvements detailed in the inspection letter.
The right to reply is not for making complaints or for criticising the scheme or food safety officer.
Your comments will be reviewed by the food safety officer and may be edited in order to remove offensive or defamatory remarks before being published online and displayed together with your food hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency website.