Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS): guidance for businesses
Food hygiene rating publication and displaying your rating
When and where your food hygiene rating is published, and how to display your rating at premises and online.
Ratings publication
Following a food hygiene inspection in your business, your rating will be uploaded by the local authority so that it is published on the Food hygiene ratings website. Ratings of '5 - very good' will be published as soon as the information is uploaded by your local authority. Ratings of 0 – 4 will be published 3 – 5 weeks after the date of inspection to allow for an appeal to be submitted (see our page on safeguards).
If you cannot find your rating
If you cannot find your rating on the website, try searching using just the business name or with the first part of the postcode. If your business is registered at a private address (for example you are a home caterer), only the first part of the postcode is published. Searching using parts of the address that are not published will not return any results. If you are still unable to find your rating, you should contact your local authority. The FSA provides the ratings website but what is published on it is supplied by the local authority.
You may give permission for the full address to be published. This must be given in writing to the inspecting local authority.
Publishing the rating early
If your business is in England or Wales, you can request that a rating is published before the end of the appeal period. This request must be made in writing to your local authority. You must include:
- details of who you are
- the name and address of the business
- your contact information
- the date of the inspection
- the rating given
The local authority will review the request and will usually publish the rating early. This option is not available in Northern Ireland.
You can use the relevant form below, email or write to your local authority directly to request early publication of your rating.
England
Wales
Amending food business details
If the name or address details of your business shown on our food hygiene ratings website are wrong, you should contact the local authority that gave you the rating and ask for the necessary changes to be made.
Find your local authority food safety team.
Displaying your rating on your premises
England
Wales
If your business is based in Wales, you are legally required to display your rating in a visible place at or near each customer entrance, like the front door, entrance or window of the business. Stickers must be displayed where they can be easily read by customers before they enter the establishment when it is open for business.
If you supply takeaway food directly to consumers and have a menu or leaflet that shows food for sale, the price and a way of ordering the food without visiting the premises, you must publish a bilingual statement on the materials directing customers to the food hygiene ratings website.
The statement also reminds consumers that they have a legal right to ask the food business for their food hygiene rating when they order.
Northern Ireland
If your business is based in Northern Ireland, you are legally required to display your rating at or near each customer entrance like the front door, entrance or window of the business. Stickers must be displayed in a location where they can be readily seen and easily read by customers before they enter the establishment when it is open for business.
You must provide information on your rating verbally if requested in person or over the phone.
Displaying your rating online
We encourage you to promote your hygiene rating by displaying it on your website or social media pages as well as in your window. To help you get started, we have a comprehensive guidance with downloadable rating images. We aim to help you make the most of your rating by displaying it online.
Tips
How to make the most of your rating
We have a food hygiene rating scheme toolkit for businesses which gives you ideas and inspiration on how to publicise your food hygiene rating online and offline.