Food Hygiene Ratings - Scores on the Doors

It is very important that all food businesses obey the law and supply food that is safe to eat.  Now customers in Three Rivers can see how well a food business has done on its last inspection.  The scheme is called Scores on the Doors.

Under this scheme, each food outlet may display inspection information (in the form of a certificate) on the door or window, which is supported by information on this website.

The scheme in Three Rivers is very similar to those already operating in other Hertfordshire areas, and in London.  There are many other schemes being used elsewhere and the Food Standards Agency is currently evaluating how well the various schemes work.

If you cannot find a premises you are interested in anywhere on the Scores on the Doors document below it will be because either it was last inspected before 1st January 2007, or it is a new business awaiting its first inspection.

Frequently asked questions – “Scores on the Doors”

Can the star rating be changed?

Yes, but only when a food hygiene inspection is undertaken. A food hygiene inspection will only take place when it is due, in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Food Standards Agency, unless the business ownership details change or if serious breaches of food legislation are identified during a routine visit.

Do businesses have to display their star rating?

No. Displaying the certificate is voluntary, however if they do wish to display the certificate then it must be visible from the outside of the premises enabling the public to view the latest hygiene score before deciding to enter. The council will be displaying the scores on the website.

How can I find out what star rating is given to a particular business?

You can ask the business directly for their score or you can visit the council website for a list of businesses inspected and their scores.

How will a business get a star rating?

Following a planned inspection the food officer will score the business based on a national scoring scheme endorsed by the Food Standards Agency.  For the first time, the scores given for the current level of compliance for 'food hygiene', 'structure' and the 'confidence in management and control systems' will be used to calculate a simple star rating for the business. The business will be issued with a certificate to display on their front door or front window.  The ratings will also be available through our website.

Is this a national scheme?

No. Local authorities in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire have created a scheme based on consumer research and the results of schemes currently run abroad. Similar schemes are being set up around the country by other Local Authorities. The Food Standards Agency is very keen on the concept and is currently assessing the various schemes.

What does it mean if a business is not displaying its certificate?

There may be a perfectly good reason for this. The business may still be awaiting an inspection or may have been inspected and waiting for a new certificate to be issued. However, the business may not have been awarded a certificate as standards were poor at the time of the inspection.

What does the star rating mean?

The star rating lets you see at a glance the hygiene standards in the business at the time of inspection, with 2 stars indicating the business is satisfactory and therefore generally complying with the law, while 5 stars means excellent standards of hygiene were demonstrated.

What if a business disagrees with the star rating?

The rating is based on a professional food officer's inspection and will not normally be changed.  However, if a business believes it has not been treated fairly, the council's formal complaints procedure can be used and the matter will be investigated. If a business feels that standards have improved since the inspection they will have the right to have their comments posted on the council's website as long as they are accurate in the officer's opinion.
The score will change at the next food hygiene inspection only which can be anytime between 6 months and 3 years.

When will all businesses be rated?

The rating has been given for all food businesses inspected after the 1st January 2007. The next inspection date depends on when the business was last inspected and the hygiene conditions found at the time. As a general rule, the worst performing businesses are inspected more often than the better performing businesses. There are approximately 400 food businesses covered by this scheme in the district and it is anticipated it will take approximately 2 years to visit all the businesses.

Which businesses will get a star rating?

All food businesses that form part of the council's inspection programme. This will include places like restaurants, takeaways, supermarkets and pubs serving food, but will exclude lower risk premises such as some newsagents and pubs that do not sell open, high risk food.

Why is Three Rivers District Council introducing the scheme?

The Council is introducing the scheme to help improve food hygiene standards and to give the public information they are legally entitled to receive in a format they will readily understand, such as a star rating

What do the stars mean?

The following criteria are used to determine the number of hygiene stars given to the premises:

• Cleanliness of business and safety of food.
• Structural conditions, for example, repair, lighting, ventilation and pest proofing.
• Confidence in management, for example, past record in terms of complying with the law and the general attitude.

The scoring criteria is as follows:

5 stars - Excellent hygiene conditions found. High standard of compliance with food legislation. Highly confident in the management.
4 stars - Very Good
3 stars - Good
2 stars - Satisfactory
1 star   - Fair hygiene conditions found. Some non-compliance with food legislation. Some confidence in management. More effort required to prevent fall in standards.
0 stars - Poor hygiene conditions found. Some major non-compliance with food legislation and follow-up action is likely.

Will the food be good?

This is for the customer to decide! The star system for hygiene should not be confused with the star awards from say, the Michelin Guides, and other national and international organisations that assess hotels and restaurants.

Thinking of starting a food business?  Visit the Food Standards Agency website for more advice.