The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) provides consumers with information about hygiene standards in food business establishments and reflects the most recent food hygiene inspection findings. The rating is available to the public on the Food Standards Agency website within 28 days of scoring or sooner if a rating of 5 has been achieved.
There are 6 ratings ranging from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). You will be supplied with a sticker showing your food hygiene rating score following your food hygiene inspection and are encouraged to display it in a prominent position.
Currently only food businesses that supply food directly to the consumer are included. If you think your business should have been given a score but does not have one you should contact Dorset Council Food, Safety and Port Health Team.
How the food hygiene rating is calculated
Businesses will be given a rating for the standards of hygiene found at that time which includes an assessment of:
- how hygienically the food is handled - safe food preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling, and storage
- the condition of the structure of the premises - cleanliness, repair, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
- how food safety is managed and documented - using systems such as Safer Food Better Business or equivalent
Businesses' rights
The national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ - safeguards for food businesses guide provides questions and answers in order to ensure the scheme is fair to businesses. This includes:
- right of reply: the business can make any relevant comment around works completed since the visit or mitigating factors at the time of the inspection by completion of the right of reply form
- right to appeal: appeal the rating given by completion of a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - Appeal form within 21 days from receiving notification of rating
- the option to request a re-visit: when all required works have been done, businesses can complete the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - Request for re-visit form. There is a charge of £229.50 for this service. Officers will make an unannounced visit within three months of the request
Scheme Disclaimer
The food hygiene rating scheme is not an endorsement of current standards but merely reflects the rating we awarded the premises at the time of their inspection. Nevertheless, we try very hard to make sure the information available on these pages is correct and in the case of the food hygiene rating scheme adheres to the FSA's brand standard.