How we rate a food business' hygiene

We inspect food businesses across Adur and Worthing to check their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. Food premises are given a rating based on their food hygiene and this is published as part of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).

Run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities, the scheme is designed to inform people about food hygiene standards to help them choose where to eat out or shop for food. Making this information accessible to the public rewards better performing businesses and incentivises business owners with poor hygiene to improve standards.

How the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme works

Following an inspection by our Environmental Health Officers a food business will be given a food hygiene rating, ranging from 0 (urgent improvement is required) to 5 (very good). The rating reflects the standards of hygiene found at the time of inspection:

Food rating 0 - Urgent improvement necessary Food rating 1 - Major improvement necessary Food rating 2 - Improvement necessary Food rating 3 - Generally satisfactory Food rating 4 - Good Food rating 5 - Very good

Most food businesses where customers can eat or buy food are covered by the scheme, including:

restaurants
cafés
pubs
hotels
takeaways
delicatessens
care homes
shops

After an inspection we give food businesses a sticker which shows their rating and encourage them to display in their premises. Ratings are also published on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website, where you can search by business name, street, town or postcode.

Find a food hygiene rating -on the FSA website

How businesses are scored

The score we give a business reflects the level of risk that their food hygiene arrangements pose to customers on the day of the inspection.

A rating is worked out using three criteria:

Food hygiene and safety: how hygienically food is prepared, cooked, cooled and stored, and what measures are taken to prevent contamination
Structure and cleaning: the condition of the structure of the premises, including cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, equipment and other facilities
Confidence in management: the business's track record, and how the management approaches hygiene and safety - including how well procedures are documented and the technical knowledge available

The hygiene rating does not reflect the quality of food being served or the dining experience.

What happens after an inspection

Following a food hygiene inspection you will be notified of your rating in writing within 14 days. This notification will include details of how the inspecting officer worked out your rating, and if a top rating has not been achieved, what actions to take to make the necessary improvements.

If your business is given a rating of 5:

this will be uploaded to the Food Standards Agency website within five working days after your inspection.

For premises scoring less than 5:

When a rating of 0 to 4 is uploaded and no record for the business is already published:
- the website will show the business as 'awaiting inspection' with the message 'Recently inspected - new rating to be published soon' until the new rating is published.
- or if an appeal is lodged, the website will show the business as 'awaiting publication' until the appeal is determined and the rating published.

If you would like your score to be published prior to the 21-day appeal period please apply for early publication via the online portal:

After clicking the link you will need to register in order to upload the FHRS standard.
Once registered please click on 'Requests' - then either 'Upload food hygiene rating scheme score standard' or 'Upload food hygiene rating scheme score urgent'.

Upload the FHRS standard

The upload will take place within five working days at no further cost and uploads are undertaken weekly.

You have the opportunity to respond to your food rating, including the option to appeal if you feel it is unfair. For more information please see:

How to respond to your food hygiene rating

FHRS additional services (chargeable)

We have two additional services available:

If you require an upload urgently for all Food Hygiene Rating scores, this service can be provided within 24 hours during office hours at a fee of £25.
The provision of an additional FHRS sticker at a charge of £10 per additional sticker.

Access our online portal here:

After clicking the link you will need to register in order to upload the FHRS standard.
Select 'Requests for Service or Complaints' and then select either 'Upload FHRS Score - urgent' or 'Additional Food Hygiene Rating Sticker'.
The payment is processed via the portal so you will be asked to make your payment as the last step to your request.

Make a complaint or enquiry