What Is The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme? Robust cleanliness and hygiene standards are an absolute must for any business in the hospitality sector serving up food and drink.
Consumers are becoming increasingly discerning about who they spend their money with and, since the pandemic, hygiene has become even more important to them than before… so any company looking to remain competitive in the future will need to make sure that cleanliness is a top priority.
Something businesses would be wise to familiarise themselves with is the food hygiene rating scheme, which is run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local councils around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Under the scheme, businesses are given a rating from zero to five, with certificates then displayed online and on the premises themselves so that customers can make more informed choices about where to eat. A rating of five means your hygiene standards are very good, while a rating of zero means urgent improvements are required.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, businesses are required by law to display their ratings onsite, but it’s still voluntary in England. However, transparency is key these days and if you do want to bring the customers in, you may want to consider displaying your rating sticker so people can see how seriously you take hygiene and how much you value them as customers.
The rating covers cleanliness of facilities, of course, but also how food is handled, stored and prepared and how food safety is managed. It doesn’t cover food quality, customer service, culinary skills, comfort and overall presentation f food.
During an inspection, an officer will check how hygienically you handle food (such as how it’s prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled and stored), the cleanliness of your premises (including layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control and so on) and how you manage food safety (such as through processes, training and systems to prioritise good hygiene at all times).
If you’re looking to improve your food hygiene rating, make sure you follow the advice given to you by the inspector at the time of their visit.
You can also drive success by ensuring good personal hygiene (washing your hands frequently and thoroughly), cleaning up as you go, disinfecting work surfaces and equipment thoroughly and by maintaining a robust cleaning schedule.
Of course, it can be difficult to make sure that you’re ticking all the relevant boxes, particularly where cleaning is concerned… which is where hiring a professional cleaning company can really come into its own. Bringing in a team of specialists means you know the job is being done to the highest of standards and it frees up your time to devote to other areas of the business, ensuring customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
If you’re interested in hiring a Canary Wharf cleaning company to help you achieve the highest food hygiene ratings, get in touch with AEG Cleaning today to see what we can do.
FAQs Related to What Is The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme?
What is the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme?
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a system implemented by regulatory authorities in many countries to assess and communicate the hygiene standards of food businesses. It assigns a numerical rating or a grade to indicate how well a business complies with food hygiene and safety regulations.
How is the food hygiene rating determined?
Inspectors from the regulatory authority visit food businesses to assess factors such as cleanliness, food handling practices, storage, and management of food safety. The assessment results in a rating that reflects the overall hygiene and safety practices of the establishment.
