Food hygiene ratings

The food hygiene rating scheme, which is is run by local authorities in partnership with the FSA, helps make it easier for consumers to choose places with good hygiene when eating out or shopping for food. The rating tells them about the hygiene standards in restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways, hotels and other places they eat out, as well as in supermarkets and other food shops.

When a catering or retail food business is inspected by a local authority food safety officer the business is given a rating. At the top of the rating scale is ‘5' – this means the hygiene standards are very good. At the bottom of the scale is ‘0' – this means urgent improvement is required.

Food hygiene ratings for businesses can be found by looking for the bright green and black window sticker or by searching on: food.gov.uk/ratings, where the food hygiene ratings for included premises are displayed.

The scheme applies to all businesses that sell food directly to consumers. Manufacturers and wholesalers are, therefore, excluded. Some very low risk businesses and those operating from a private, domestic premises are described as "exempt" on the web-site.

If you have any queries about the scheme in general or if you cannot find a particular premises on the web-site please email the food safety team at environmental.health@stroud.gov.uk.