Food hygiene ratings
This website lets you search for food businesses across London to find out the hygiene rating they achieved from their last food hygiene inspection.
Frequently asked questions
- How can I find out what star rating is given to a particular business?
- What if the business is not listed?
- Can the star rating be changed?
- Do businesses have to display their rating?
- How do I know if the certificate on display is valid and genuine?
- How often will the rating change?
- How will a food business get a star rating?
- Is this a national scheme?
- What does the star rating mean?
- What do I do if the business is not displaying its certificate?
- What if a business disagrees with the rating?
- Which businesses will get a star rating?
- Who do I contact if I want more information about the scheme?
- Who will decide what rating to give?
- Why is London introducing the scheme?
- What is Freedom of information?
- Why do some businesses like supermarkets have more than one rating?
- Why can't I find any results for my local council?
How can I find out what star rating is given to a particular business?
Businesses are given a sticker with their star rating to place in the door or window and a certificate to put on the wall. You can ask the business directly for their score if they are not displaying a sticker or certificate, or you can look up the food businesses score on the London website. This list is regularly updated.
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What if the business is not listed?
We have tried to include as many food businesses as we can. We have not included businesses where the business is run from a home address because of data protection issues. Some boroughs use different methods of inspection for some low risk premises such as chemists selling sweets. These premises may not receive a star rating. Some authorities are taking part in the Department of Trade and Industry's Retail Enforcement Pilot and so some premises may not be given a rating. If a business is not known to us we may not have visited it. In certain cases, your local Council might decide to withhold details from the site. This might happen, for example, if legal action is being considered. Only premises inspected since 1st January 2006 are included on this site, so some lower risk premises may not have received an inspection since then. They will be added to the site once they are inspected again. Contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
Can the star rating be changed?
Yes, but only when a food hygiene inspection is undertaken. A food hygiene inspection will only take place when it is due as part of an agreed programme. An inspection may take place if the business ownership changes or if serious breaches of food legislation are found during a routine visit or through investigating a complaint. If the business feels that standards have improved since the inspection they have 14 days to submit comments or mitigation for the standards found, which will then appear on the website. If improved standards are maintained the rating is likely to be changed at the next food safety inspection.
Back to top
Do businesses have to display their rating?
No. Displaying a sticker or certificate is voluntary, however if they do wish to display them the sticker should be in the door or window and be visible from the outside of the premises so that the public can view the latest score. The ratings will be displayed on the London website.
Back to top
How do I know if the certificate on display is valid and genuine?
Following a food safety inspection the previous sticker and certificate will be collected and destroyed. Each certificate is printed on special security paper which makes it obvious to the officer if it has been copied in any way. The sticker will have an officers signature on the back and will be dated. Both the sticker and certificate will have a unique number on which can be cross checked with the list of food businesses and their scores on the London website. If you are still in doubt or suspect the sticker or certificate on display is not genuine contact your local Environment Health department.
Back to top
How often will the rating change?
As soon as a new food safety inspection has been carried out. The inspection due date depends on when the business was last inspected and the hygiene conditions found at the time. The worst performing businesses are inspected more often than the better performing businesses. An inspection can take place anytime between 6 months and three years depending on its safety risk.
Back to top
How will a food business get a star rating?
Following a food safety inspection the officer will score the business based on a national scoring system produced by the Food Standards Agency. The officers are trained in scoring under this scheme. Amongst other factors scores are given for hygiene, structure and confidence in management. Scores for these three areas are added up to give a total score. This total score is used to calculate a simple star rating for the business. The star rating will be issued on a sticker and certificate and sent to the business to display on the front door or window. The rating is also available to view on the Your London website.
Back to top
Is this a national scheme?
No. The scoring of the inspection findings is set out in a nationally agreed code of practice which applies to all food businesses. The star rating scheme is a London wide project that is supported by the Food Standards Agency as one of the pilot projects around the country. The FSA will be looking at how well it works in London and in other areas before deciding what action to take next. Fifteen authorities outside of London have signed up to the London scheme and will be displaying the food business ratings on their own websites. Other local authorities around the country have set up their own schemes and may be different from the London project. You can see these by going to www.food.gov.uk/scores.
Back to top
What does the star rating mean?
The star rating lets you see at a glance the hygiene standards in the business at the time of inspection.
On the detail page for each business you can also see the scores broken down in more detail.
A score of 0-5 is excellent: Very high standards of food safety management. Fully compliant with food safety legislation.
A score of 10-15 is very good: Good food safety management. High standard of compliance with food safety legislation.
A score of 20-25 is good: Good level of legal compliance. Some more effort might be required.
A score of 30 is broadly compliant: Broadly compliant with food safety legislation. More effort required to meet all legal requirements.
A score of 35-45 is poor: Poor level of compliance with food safety legislation – much more effort required.
A score of 50 or over is very poor: A general failure to comply with legal requirements. Little or no appreciation of food safety. Major effort required.
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What do I do if the business is not displaying its certificate?
There may be a perfectly good reason for this. The business may: still be awaiting an inspection or have been inspected and waiting for a new sticker and certificate to be issued. The business may not be given a sticker or certificate if it is subject to other types of intervention or inspection programmes that do not give a score. If you want to know more about this, please contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
What if a business disagrees with the rating?
The rating is based on a professional officer's inspection and will not be changed. However, if a business believes that it has not been treated fairly the council's formal complaints procedure can be used and the matter fully investigated. If the business feels that standards have improved since the inspection they have 14 days to submit comments or mitigation for the standards found, which will then appear on the website. If improved standards are maintained the rating is likely to be changed at the next food safety inspection.
Back to top
Which businesses will get a star rating?
All businesses that form part of the council's inspection programme. This will include places like restaurants, takeaways. supermarkets and pubs serving food. However businesses run from a home address will not appear on the website. The business may not be given a star rating if it is subject to other types of intervention or inspection programmes that do not give a score. If you want to know more about this, please contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
Who do I contact if I want more information about the scheme?
You may contact the environmental health service within your home borough if in London or the borough the business is in. The website provides the direct links for you.
Back to top
Who will decide what rating to give?
The officer undertaking the food safety inspection
Back to top
Why is London introducing the scheme?
There were already some London boroughs with their own schemes. London boroughs decided to work together to introduce one scheme across the whole of London to make it easier for both the public and businesses. Consumers and tourists have become more interested in where they eat. We believe that the scheme will help make information on food safety in businesses much clearer to understand and the information easier to find through using a London based website and certificate display scheme. We also believe that the scheme will help improve standards of food safety in the Capital and contribute towards reducing food related illnesses.
Back to top
What is Freedom of information?
In the UK, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 came into force on 1 January 2005. Apart from exemptions relating to Public Security, Privacy of the Individual, etc, the general principle is to give consumers the right to access information held by local Councils unless this can be shown not to be in the public interest. The aim of both of these laws is to be more open and transparent about information held by local services.
Back to top
Why do some businesses like supermarkets have more than one rating?
Some authorities 'unitise' inspections of larger premises, particularly where the different units of a premises, such as a supermarket delicatessen counter or in-store bakery pose different levels of risk to say, the main retail part of the store. This can result in different parts of a store being inspected at different frequencies and so could also mean that the different parts receive different star ratings.
Back to top
Why can't I find any results for my local council?
Most London authorities are included on this website, although a few have chosen not to take part in this scheme. A small number may also not be ready when the scheme goes live but will join in as soon as they can. If you cannot find results from a particular council go to the Food Scores Home page and use the map of London to click on that authority. You will be taken to the authority's own website, which may have information about their involvement in the project or use their contact details to ask them if they are taking part.
Back to top
Businesses are given a sticker with their star rating to place in the door or window and a certificate to put on the wall. You can ask the business directly for their score if they are not displaying a sticker or certificate, or you can look up the food businesses score on the London website. This list is regularly updated.
Back to top
What if the business is not listed?
We have tried to include as many food businesses as we can. We have not included businesses where the business is run from a home address because of data protection issues. Some boroughs use different methods of inspection for some low risk premises such as chemists selling sweets. These premises may not receive a star rating. Some authorities are taking part in the Department of Trade and Industry's Retail Enforcement Pilot and so some premises may not be given a rating. If a business is not known to us we may not have visited it. In certain cases, your local Council might decide to withhold details from the site. This might happen, for example, if legal action is being considered. Only premises inspected since 1st January 2006 are included on this site, so some lower risk premises may not have received an inspection since then. They will be added to the site once they are inspected again. Contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
Can the star rating be changed?
Yes, but only when a food hygiene inspection is undertaken. A food hygiene inspection will only take place when it is due as part of an agreed programme. An inspection may take place if the business ownership changes or if serious breaches of food legislation are found during a routine visit or through investigating a complaint. If the business feels that standards have improved since the inspection they have 14 days to submit comments or mitigation for the standards found, which will then appear on the website. If improved standards are maintained the rating is likely to be changed at the next food safety inspection.
Back to top
Do businesses have to display their rating?
No. Displaying a sticker or certificate is voluntary, however if they do wish to display them the sticker should be in the door or window and be visible from the outside of the premises so that the public can view the latest score. The ratings will be displayed on the London website.
Back to top
How do I know if the certificate on display is valid and genuine?
Following a food safety inspection the previous sticker and certificate will be collected and destroyed. Each certificate is printed on special security paper which makes it obvious to the officer if it has been copied in any way. The sticker will have an officers signature on the back and will be dated. Both the sticker and certificate will have a unique number on which can be cross checked with the list of food businesses and their scores on the London website. If you are still in doubt or suspect the sticker or certificate on display is not genuine contact your local Environment Health department.
Back to top
How often will the rating change?
As soon as a new food safety inspection has been carried out. The inspection due date depends on when the business was last inspected and the hygiene conditions found at the time. The worst performing businesses are inspected more often than the better performing businesses. An inspection can take place anytime between 6 months and three years depending on its safety risk.
Back to top
How will a food business get a star rating?
Following a food safety inspection the officer will score the business based on a national scoring system produced by the Food Standards Agency. The officers are trained in scoring under this scheme. Amongst other factors scores are given for hygiene, structure and confidence in management. Scores for these three areas are added up to give a total score. This total score is used to calculate a simple star rating for the business. The star rating will be issued on a sticker and certificate and sent to the business to display on the front door or window. The rating is also available to view on the Your London website.
Back to top
Is this a national scheme?
No. The scoring of the inspection findings is set out in a nationally agreed code of practice which applies to all food businesses. The star rating scheme is a London wide project that is supported by the Food Standards Agency as one of the pilot projects around the country. The FSA will be looking at how well it works in London and in other areas before deciding what action to take next. Fifteen authorities outside of London have signed up to the London scheme and will be displaying the food business ratings on their own websites. Other local authorities around the country have set up their own schemes and may be different from the London project. You can see these by going to www.food.gov.uk/scores.
Back to top
What does the star rating mean?
The star rating lets you see at a glance the hygiene standards in the business at the time of inspection.
On the detail page for each business you can also see the scores broken down in more detail.
A score of 0-5 is excellent: Very high standards of food safety management. Fully compliant with food safety legislation.
A score of 10-15 is very good: Good food safety management. High standard of compliance with food safety legislation.
A score of 20-25 is good: Good level of legal compliance. Some more effort might be required.
A score of 30 is broadly compliant: Broadly compliant with food safety legislation. More effort required to meet all legal requirements.
A score of 35-45 is poor: Poor level of compliance with food safety legislation – much more effort required.
A score of 50 or over is very poor: A general failure to comply with legal requirements. Little or no appreciation of food safety. Major effort required.
Back to top
What do I do if the business is not displaying its certificate?
There may be a perfectly good reason for this. The business may: still be awaiting an inspection or have been inspected and waiting for a new sticker and certificate to be issued. The business may not be given a sticker or certificate if it is subject to other types of intervention or inspection programmes that do not give a score. If you want to know more about this, please contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
What if a business disagrees with the rating?
The rating is based on a professional officer's inspection and will not be changed. However, if a business believes that it has not been treated fairly the council's formal complaints procedure can be used and the matter fully investigated. If the business feels that standards have improved since the inspection they have 14 days to submit comments or mitigation for the standards found, which will then appear on the website. If improved standards are maintained the rating is likely to be changed at the next food safety inspection.
Back to top
Which businesses will get a star rating?
All businesses that form part of the council's inspection programme. This will include places like restaurants, takeaways. supermarkets and pubs serving food. However businesses run from a home address will not appear on the website. The business may not be given a star rating if it is subject to other types of intervention or inspection programmes that do not give a score. If you want to know more about this, please contact your local Environment Health department for more information.
Back to top
Who do I contact if I want more information about the scheme?
You may contact the environmental health service within your home borough if in London or the borough the business is in. The website provides the direct links for you.
Back to top
Who will decide what rating to give?
The officer undertaking the food safety inspection
Back to top
Why is London introducing the scheme?
There were already some London boroughs with their own schemes. London boroughs decided to work together to introduce one scheme across the whole of London to make it easier for both the public and businesses. Consumers and tourists have become more interested in where they eat. We believe that the scheme will help make information on food safety in businesses much clearer to understand and the information easier to find through using a London based website and certificate display scheme. We also believe that the scheme will help improve standards of food safety in the Capital and contribute towards reducing food related illnesses.
Back to top
What is Freedom of information?
In the UK, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 came into force on 1 January 2005. Apart from exemptions relating to Public Security, Privacy of the Individual, etc, the general principle is to give consumers the right to access information held by local Councils unless this can be shown not to be in the public interest. The aim of both of these laws is to be more open and transparent about information held by local services.
Back to top
Why do some businesses like supermarkets have more than one rating?
Some authorities 'unitise' inspections of larger premises, particularly where the different units of a premises, such as a supermarket delicatessen counter or in-store bakery pose different levels of risk to say, the main retail part of the store. This can result in different parts of a store being inspected at different frequencies and so could also mean that the different parts receive different star ratings.
Back to top
Why can't I find any results for my local council?
Most London authorities are included on this website, although a few have chosen not to take part in this scheme. A small number may also not be ready when the scheme goes live but will join in as soon as they can. If you cannot find results from a particular council go to the Food Scores Home page and use the map of London to click on that authority. You will be taken to the authority's own website, which may have information about their involvement in the project or use their contact details to ask them if they are taking part.
Back to top
