Scores on doors

The scheme runs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by local authorities in partnership with the Food Standards Agency. Local authorities are responsible for carrying out inspections of food businesses to check that they meet the requirements of food hygiene law. They give businesses food hygiene ratings based on the findings of inspections and then publish this information on the Food Standards Agency's website. The Food Standards Agency is the UK government department responsible for food safety. It gives local authorities advice, training, and other support to help them run the scheme.

A food safety officer inspects a business to check that it meets the requirements of food hygiene law. The officer is from the local authority where the business is located.

At the inspection, the officer will check:

  • How hygienically the food is handled - how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
  • The condition of the structure of the buildings - the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
  • How the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future

Each of these three elements is essential for making sure that food hygiene standards meet requirements and the food served or sold to you is safe to eat.

The hygiene standards found at the time of inspection are then rated on a scale. At the bottom of the scale is '0' - this means urgent improvement is required. At the top of the scale is '5' - this means the hygiene standards are very good.

If the top rating is not given, the officer will explain to the person who owns or manages the business what improvements need to be made and what action they can take to improve their hygiene rating.

Urgent improvement necessary

Urgent improvement necessary

Major improvement necessary

Major improvement necessary

Improvement necessary

Improvement necessary

Generally satisfactory

Generally satisfactory

Good

Good

Very good

Very good

There's 37,589 takeaways in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that scored the highest food standards score 5 and are listed on our website. With latest additions on our website like: The Pizza & Kebab House in Waltham Abbey, Sushi Daily in London, The Pizza Guys in Braintree, Best Kebab in Market Place

A different scheme called the 'Food Hygiene Information Scheme' is run in Scotland. When this scheme was tried out and tested in Scotland, the public, food businesses and local authorities in that country said they wanted the scheme to continue there.

Improvement required

Improvement required

Pass

Pass

Pass and Eat Safe

Pass and Eat Safe

What are the possible food hygiene ratings in England?

There are six possible options when a restaurant or takeaway gets it's rating:

  • 0 Urgent improvement necessary
  • 1 Major improvement necessary
  • 2 Improvement necessary
  • 3 Generally satisfactory
  • 4 Good
  • 5 Very good

What are the possible food hygiene ratings in Scotland?

There are 3 possible options when a restaurant or takeaway gets it's rating:

  • Improvement required
  • Pass
  • Pass and Eat Safe

We have 5,447 takeaways in Scotland that passed the inspection. With latest additions on our website like: Villaggio Pizza in Eaglesham, Punjabi Kitchen Tandoori Indian Takeaway in Fraserburgh, Elim's Kebab Shop in Huntly, Red Dragon Chinese in Rosslyn Street

Read more about the food hygiene scheme on www.food.gov.uk