Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is a Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Local Authority partnership supported by government. Its aim is to help consumers choose where to eat out safely by providing information about hygiene standards in food outlets at the time they are inspected to check compliance with legal requirements. The FHRS also helps supports businesses who trade well and helps drive up and maintain food safety standards. Local authorities have to work to a national Brand Standard which can be viewed on the FSA/FHRS website .
All catering outlets (restaurants, cafes, canteens, schools, care homes and nurseries, mobiles, event caterers, hotels and guesthouses) and butchers selling raw and cooked meats are included in the scheme. Manufacturers, retailers, wet bars, child minders and those producing low risk foods, eg. jams, cakes are currently excluded from the scheme.
These are the six rating levels:
Businesses which receive a 2, 1 or 0 rating may be revisited until standards improve. They may also be subject to formal action.
Worcestershire food businesses have a very good hygiene track record with some 90% having been given 5 (Very Good) and 4 (Good) ratings. Over 2,000 are now listed by local authority area on the FSA website. To check your rating is correctly uploaded go to Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and do a local search. WRS cannot make corrections to the site but can put an incorrect rating on hold. The site is updated weekly but please do not expect your rating to appear the day after an inspection is done as only 5 ratings will appear immediately. All other ratings are held for 21 day to allow appeals to be made. From 2020 you can waive the delay in publishing a new score.
Your FHRS rating is based on inspecting officers’ rating of:
- food hygiene practices
- structure, equipment, cleanliness
- Confidence In Management (CIM) of which a key element to score well is having an appropriate Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in place, including allergen controls.
Businesses are issued with a window sticker at time of visit. There is currently no legal requirement to display these but we strongly encourage you to do so!
Appealing Your Rating
The Food Business Operator has a right to appeal the rating given. Appeals must be made within 21 days of your inspection. We will only accept appeals either by e-mail, post:
You will be advised in writing within seven days of the outcome which will include a review with the inspecting officer. It may or may not include a visit to your premises by a Senior Practitioner to discuss matters raised.
FHRS Re-rating Requests (0-4 ratings)
There is a fee of £190.00 [VAT exempt] for a re-rating visit. Travel expenses may also be charged. This is in line with FHRS policy and that of many other authorities who have already introduced such a fee due to limited staff resources to carry out such visits.
Food business operators have a right to request a re-rating visit when they have taken action to put right the food hygiene failures found at last inspection. There is no limit on the number of requests but each will be subject to a separate charge. To avoid wasted visits, you should provide details of the improvements made with your request, including supporting evidence where appropriate.
To be re-rated use the Re-Rating Request form:
Payment must be received in advance. An unannounced visit will be made within 28 days of payment. The officer will look at all areas of operation not just those that needed action at last inspection.
Please be aware that your rating could go up, down, or remain the same.
If you decide not to ask for a re-rating, your next statutory inspection will be as follows (based on FSA National Code of Practice)
| FHRS Level 4 rating | 1-2 years | Time periods vary according to all risk factors |
| FHRS Level 3 rating | 1-2 years | Time periods vary according to all risk factors |
| FHRS Level 2 rating | 6 months – 1 year | With revisits as necessary to ensure food safety risks controlled |
| FHRS Level 1 rating | 6 months | With revisits as necessary to ensure food safety risks controlled |
| FHRS Level 0 rating | 6 months |
With revisits as necessary to ensure food safety risks controlled |
PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT LIMIT YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL THE ORIGINAL RATING GIVEN TO YOU WITHIN 21 DAYS OF INSPECTION