The food safety officer inspecting a business checks how well the business is meeting the law by looking at:
- how hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
- the condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
- how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe
At the end of the inspection, the business is given one of the six ratings. The top rating of ‘5’ means that the business was found to have ‘very good’ hygiene standards. Any business should be able to reach this top rating.
The food safety officer will explain to the person who owns or manages the business what improvements are needed and how they can achieve the top rating of ‘5’. We will check that these improvements are made.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has been designed to make sure that the ratings given to businesses are fair.
The scope of the scheme extends to establishments supplying food direct to consumers and includes restaurants, cafes, takeaways, sandwich shops and other places where people eat food prepared outside of the home, as well as food retailers. Establishments that do not supply food direct to consumers are ‘excluded’ from the scheme and will not be rated. This includes primary producers, manufacturers and packers, distributors including wholesalers. Establishments operating from private addresses are considered ‘sensitive’ and no home address will be published.
We will help businesses in West Lindsey to achieve the highest rating possible.
After an inspection, the rating will be uploaded by the local authority so that it is published on the Food Standards Agency Ratings website. Ratings of '5 - very good' will be published as soon as the information is uploaded. Ratings of 0 – 4 will be published 3 – 5 weeks after the date of inspection to allow for an appeal to be submitted.
The Food Business owner or manager can request that a rating is published early before the end of the appeal period. This request must be made in writing to West Lindsey. You must include: details of who you are; the name and address of the business; your contact information; the date of the inspection; and the rating given. We will review the request and will usually publish the rating early.
You can use the relevant form, email or write to us directly.
