Understanding the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Understanding the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Understanding the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – Eating food out is one of the most popular pastimes for Brits. Sharing delicious meals with friends and family simply can’t be beaten and with over 38,000 fully-licensed food-led premises in the UK, the population is spoilt for choice.

Whilst this is great for consumers, it can be a real headache for restaurant owners as they look to beat off their competition and bring revenue into their business.

There are many ways that they can do this including:

Having great reviews on websites such as Trustpilot.

Using clever marketing schemes.

Having an extensive menu.

Word of mouth.

One other way to make your restaurant seem more appealing is with a great food hygiene rating. Read on to find out more about the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is a Food Hygiene Rating System?

A food hygiene rating gives people dining at a restaurant clear guidance on how clean and safe the food is to consume. It considers many different features including:

The handling of food

Storage of food

Preparation of food

The facility’s cleanliness

Food safety management

A food hygiene inspector will be responsible for assessing the restaurant and it is a legal requirement to have a food hygiene rating. Without it, your restaurant is liable.

How do they carry out the inspection?

The inspector will begin by assessing how the food is handled. They will observe how the food is prepared, cooked, re-heated and stored. For the latter, the business will need to show records of fridge temperatures recorded by a fixed digital thermometer.

Next, the facilities of the business will be checked. This includes how clean it is, how well ventilated the restaurant is and pest control. Hygiene extends further than just food, so the restaurant must ensure these are in place.

Finally, the inspector will look at the processes behind hygiene. How well trained are the staff? How is it maintained? From here, the inspector can make a well-informed decision on what hygiene score the restaurant should receive.

What do the rankings mean?

Urgent improvement is required

A major improvement is needed

Some improvement necessary

Hygiene is of satisfactory standards

Hygiene standards are good

Hygiene levels are very good

As you can see the goal should always be 5. This will portray trust and reliability in your restaurant when people check it. Your restaurant’s ratings can be viewed easily so don’t think you can get away with it. Take the correct steps and keep your restaurant performing at its best.

Poppy Watt

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