Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

After a hygiene inspection of your premises, a food safety officer will tell you in writing what your food hygiene rating is, and issue a food hygiene rating sticker. If you believe that the rating does not reflect the hygiene standards at your premises at the time of inspection, there are steps you can take.

Appeal a food hygiene rating

If you disagree with your food rating, it is a good idea to first speak informally to the food safety officer who inspected your premises. Their contact details will be included in your rating notification letter. The officer should help you understand how your rating was worked out and advise if an appeal is appropriate.

If you still believe that the rating is wrong or unfair, you can appeal it in writing to your local council. You must submit the appeal within 21 days of receiving the rating notification. Details on how to appeal are included in the 'notification of rating' letter.

The appeal will be considered by an authorised officer who was not involved in the original inspection. You will be notified of the outcome within 21 days of the council receiving your appeal. In some circumstances, a food safety officer may visit your premises again.

Once the appeal process is complete, the council will publish your rating online. If you disagree with the outcome, you can use the council’s complaints procedure or challenge the decision by judicial review.

Right to reply to your food hygiene rating

The right to reply allows you to explain to your customers any actions you have taken to improve hygiene standards since your inspection. You can also explain any unusual circumstances that may have affected the rating.

To use this right, you should send your comments in writing to the food safety officer who carried out the inspection. Your comments will be published online alongside your hygiene rating. The council may edit your comments if they include any offensive, defamatory, inaccurate or irrelevant remarks.

Request a re-visit inspection

You will receive a new food hygiene rating each time your premises are inspected as part of routine local council inspections.

If you have made improvements to hygiene standards raised in your last inspection report, you can ask for a re-visit to get a new rating before your next planned inspection. You will have to:

• submit the request in writing to the local council
• explain what actions you have taken since the last inspection
• provide supporting evidence, such as receipts or photographs to show that work has been completed

There is a charge for a requested re-rating visit. The local council will provide details of the costs and how to pay.

Find out more about the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme safeguards, including appeals, the right to reply and asking for a re-visit.