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Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Our officers visit all businesses in the district where you can eat or shop for food. Each business is then given a rating from 0 to 5 using the Food Standard Agency’s guidance.

Food hygiene rating scale

What do the ratings mean?

The food hygiene rating reflects the hygiene standards found at the time of the inspection. A business will be given one of five ratings:

0 = urgent improvement needed
1 = major improvement needed
2 = improvement needed
3 = generally satisfactory
4 = good
5 = very good

You can check a food hygiene rating on the Food Standard Agency’s website.

Can a business dispute the rating?

Food businesses that don’t agree with our decision should first discuss the outcome with the officer who carried out the inspection. If the dispute can’t be resolved in this way then the business can dispute the food hygiene rating by making an appeal [PDF, 0.2MB].

Can a business improve the rating given?

If a business agrees with the decision, but would like to improve its food hygiene rating, then it can do so by asking for a re-rating inspection. To request a re-rating inspection please:

  1. Complete and submit the re-rating request form below

  2. Once we've received the form, we'll ring you so you can pay the registration fee by credit or debit card.  You will be asked on the re-rating request form for the best number to contact you on between 9.30am and 4.30pm so we can take payment.

  3. When your payment has been processed, we will write to you to confirm whether we agree with the request. If we do, the re-rating inspection will take place within three months of the date we received payment.

Please note that the re-rating inspection will not be carried out until we have received your payment.

If your food hygiene inspection took place before 1 April 2023, the fee for a re-rating inspection will be £120.

If your food hygiene inspection took place on or after 1 April 2023, the fee for a re-rating inspection will be £180.

Submit Online Re-Rating Request Form

How do I make a complaint about a food business?

The Food Safety team can investigate complaints about food bought in the district and food safety issues at food premises.

Further information is available in our Food Complaint Leaflet [PDF, 60KB].

If you have a complaint, please email food@huntingdonshire.gov.uk and we will aim to respond within ten working days.

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