Food hygiene rating help
Got a low food hygiene rating? here’s how we can help.
A low food hygiene rating is fixable. Leafe puts the daily checks, cleaning routines and records inspectors look for on your team’s phones, from today.
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How your food hygiene rating is scored
Every rating comes from three scores. Knowing which one pulled you down tells you where to start.
Penalty points ∙ Lower is better 0 5 10 15 20 25Score 1
How food is handled
Safe prep, cooking, cooling and storage, and stopping cross-contamination.
Penalty points ∙ Lower is better 0 5 10 15 20 25Score 2
Cleanliness and condition
How clean the kitchen is, and whether the premises and equipment are fit for service.
Penalty points ∙ Lower is better 0 5 10 20 30 Score 3
Confidence in management
The systems behind each shift: your food safety plan, training, records that prove checks happen, and your track record.
Highest single score 0 or 5: a 5 is in reach 10: caps you at a 4 15: caps you at a 2 20 or more: caps you at a 1 or a 0
The inspector adds your three scores together. Your rating is also capped by your highest single score, using the colours above, so one weak area can hold you back.
How the points become your rating
5
4
3
Very good
Total: 0 to 15
No score over: 5
2
Good
Total: 20
No score over: 10
1
0
Major improvement . necessary
Total: 45 to 50
No score over: 20
Generally satisfactory
Total: 25 to 30
No score over: 10
Urgent improvement . necessary
Total: Over 50
No score over: n/a
Improvement necessary
Total: 35 to 40
No score over: 15
Source: Food Standards Agency, Food Hygiene Rating Scheme scoring. Applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It all starts with good records.
Records are how you prove to an inspector what happens everyday, and they sit at the heart of your confidence in management score. When checks are logged every shift, the habits follow: food handled safely, and a kitchen kept clean and in good repair. That lifts the other two scores too.
How to improve a low food hygiene rating
You do not have to wait for your next routine inspection to improve a low food hygiene rating. Once the problems are fixed, you can ask your council to come back and re-rate you.
1
Fix what was flagged
Start with the issues in your inspection report. Leafe turns them into daily checks and routines.
2
Record it everyday
Checks done on the phone, stamped with time, date and who did them.
3
Ask for a re-rating visit
Apply to your council with evidence that things have changed. Your Leafe records are that evidence.
You can also appeal within 21 days of being told your rating, or publish a right to reply at any time. Rules and fees for re-rating visits vary between England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Link: Read the FSA guidance (https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-hygiene-rating-scheme)
4
Keep it up
Routines and missed-check alerts keep standards steady, so the next inspection holds no surprises.
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