Food hygiene ratings

Find out the hygiene rating of a food business via the Food Standards Agency (opens new window) website.

Food Safety Inspections

The food safety officer inspecting your business premises will look at:

• how food is handled - how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
• the condition of the buildings - the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
• how the business manages records to make sure food is safe

Inspectors have the right to enter and inspect food premises at all reasonable hours. They do not have to make an appointment and will usually come without notice.

What happens after your inspection

At the end of your inspection, your business will be given a hygiene rating from 0-5 with 5 meaning that the business was found to have 'very good' hygiene standards. The food hygiene rating is not a guide to food quality. It is only a rating of the hygiene used in preparation, storage and management of the food, equipment and business premises.

When they think it is necessary, inspectors can take 'enforcement action', to protect the public. For example, they can inspect your records, detain or seize suspect foods, or take samples and photographs of food.

There are three main types of notice that can be served by a food safety inspector:

• 'Hygiene improvement notice' or 'food labelling improvement notice' - this sets out certain things that you must do to comply with the law
• 'Hygiene emergency prohibition notice' - stops the use of certain processes, premises or equipment and must be confirmed by a court.
• 'Remedial action notice' - stops the use of certain processes, premises or equipment and is similar to a hygiene emergency prohibition notice, but it does not need to be confirmed by a court.

It is a criminal offence not to comply with a notice once served.

Inspectors can also recommend prosecution in serious cases that could also lead to a fine or imprisonment.

Requesting a re-rate visit

If you wish to apply for a re-rate inspection for your food business please complete the below application form and return it to food.safety@highpeak.gov.uk. Please make sure you have addressed all the points raised by the inspector at the time of inspection and listed within your inspection report.

Food hygiene re-rate request application form (PDF, 118 KB)

If you request a revisit for a re-rate within the first three months from your inspection date, then a fee is payable. If you are prepared to wait 3 months before you apply, then it would be free. If you wish to pay for a visit, please use the below payment button.

The Food Standards Agency provides a number of tool kits for food businesses including:

Business toolkit for promoting good food hygiene (opens new window)
Guidance on Safeguards and standard forms for business (opens new window)
Safer food, better business (opens new window)