If the local council inspects the premises, they will award it a Food Hygiene Standards Rating, with 0 being the lowest score and 5 the highest. Rankings are based on the handling, storage, and preparation of food, the cleanliness of the premises and facilities, and the quality of food safety management.

The local authority can make repeat visits if a rating is low and may close or suspend a business’s operations if they think that it might be a public health risk. More information on the rating system can be found here.

Next up: Food safety