The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helps you choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving you clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards.
They run the scheme in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The scheme gives businesses a rating from five to zero which is displayed at their premises and online so you can make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.
Receiving a 0 food hygiene rating isn’t the end of the road. The FSA won’t automatically shut you down for a zero rating, unless there’s an immediate risk to consumers. You’ll be re-inspected within weeks or months, and you’ll need to show progress.#foodhygiene pic.twitter.com/yiTg3lTMti
— The Safer Food Group (@SaferFoodGroup) May 17, 2023
5 – hygiene standards are ‘very good’
4 – hygiene standards are ‘good’
3 – hygiene standards are ‘generally satisfactory’
2 – ‘some improvement’ is necessary
1 – ‘major improvement’ is necessary
0 – ‘urgent improvement’ is required
The scheme is set out in law in Wales and Northern Ireland but display of the rating sticker is only voluntary in England.
There is currently only one business in Oxford that has a 0 hygiene rating.
Globe News (Newsagents)
Globe Newsmarket
2 Castle Street
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 1DU
Last inspection: August 9, 2023
Businesses with poor ratings
Businesses which are given low ratings must make urgent or major improvements to hygiene standards.
The local authority food safety officer has several enforcement options available as well as giving advice and guidance to make sure these improvements are made.
The food safety officer will also tell the business how quickly these improvements must be made and this will depend on the type of issue that needs to be addressed.
If the officer finds that a business’s hygiene standards are very poor and there is an imminent risk to public health, when food may be unsafe to eat, the officer must act to ensure consumers are protected.
This could result in stopping part of the business or closing it down completely until it is safe to recommence.
Recommended reading:
18 Oxford businesses handed new food hygiene ratings
10 Oxfordshire restaurants given top hygiene ratings
Oxfordshire shop given awful food hygiene rating again
What the rating covers
Ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection. It is the responsibility of the business to comply with food hygiene law at all times.
This includes:
- handling of food
- how food is stored
- how food is prepared
- cleanliness of facilities
- how food safety is managed
The food hygiene rating scheme does not provide information on the following factors:
- quality of the food
- customer service
- culinary skill
- presentation
- comfort
For suspected food poisoning, seek medical advice from your GP and contact your local environmental health or food safety team.