Food hygiene

Our environmental health officers inspect food businesses in Hull. They check that they meet the requirements of food hygiene law. Each time we inspect a business we give it a new rating.

When inspections take place

Food hygiene inspections are unannounced. How often the inspections take place depends on the type of business and the potential hazards. This is as well as how well it is operated. The greater the risk, the more often we'll inspect the business.

If the business owner or manager makes improvements to hygiene standards, they can ask us to carry out a visit before the date of the next planned inspection. This means these improvements can be checked, and a new rating could be given.

How businesses are rated

The hygiene standards found at the time of the inspection are then rated on a scale.

• at the bottom of the scale is 0 - this means urgent improvement is required
• at the top of the scale is 5 - this means the hygiene standards are very good

The rating given shows how well the business does overall. The business may do better in some areas and less well in others. The rating takes this into account. This includes those areas that need improving the most.

The officer will explain to the person who owns or manages the business what improvements need to be made. They explain what action they can take to improve their hygiene rating.

All inspections will result in a report letter. The letter clearly identifies the areas where non-compliance was noted. This is detailed under the 3 headings confidence in management, structure, and practices.

Letters including the rating together with the window sticker will either be left at the premises or, if substantial improvements are needed, it will be sent within 14 days of the inspection being carried out. Request for early publication of your hygiene rating.