
What is the National Food Hygiene Rating
Scheme?
It is a scheme to provide customers with at-a-glance information
about hygiene standards in food businesses. Businesses in
South Somerset are rated by food hygiene inspectors, and
this helps customers make informed choices about where they buy and
eat food.
Which businesses are given a rating?
Restaurants, takeaways, cafes, sandwich shops, pubs, hotels,
supermarkets and other retail food outlets, as well as any other
business where consumers can eat or buy food, will be given a
rating.
Businesses will be issued with a rating certificate
and sticker and be encouraged to display these.
A toolkit is available that provides many ideas
and resources for businesses to make the most of their food hygiene
rating.
   
How is the rating calculated?
Following a food hygiene inspection by an
officer of South Somerset District Council,
businesses will be given a rating for the standards of hygiene
found at that time. These include:
- How hygienically the food is handled - safe food preparation,
cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.
- The condition of the structure of the premises - cleanliness,
repair, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities.
- How food safety is managed and documented - using systems such
as 'Safer Food Better Business'
or equivalent.
When will the food hygiene rating be notified to each
business and published?
The food hygiene rating will be provided in writing whether it
is notified at the time of visit or afterwards. If not notified at
the time of visit, the rating will be communicated within 5 working
days of the inspection. Food businesses receiving a score of 0 - 4
have a right of appeal. The 21 day appeal period commences at
the end of the 5 day notification period. This means it will take
27 days before the rating is eligible for uploading on to the food
hygiene rating scheme website. Should a business be satisfied with
the score issued and wishes to have its score released for
publication prior to the expiry of the 27 day period it should
provide written notification of its decision to waive its right of
appeal. All ratings eligible for publication on to the food hygiene
rating scheme website will be uploaded at 3 week intervals.
What do the ratings mean?
- A rating of 5 means that conditions are
very good
- A rating of 4 means that conditions are
good
- A rating of 3 means that conditions are
generally satisfactory
- A rating of 2 means that improvement
is necessary
- A rating of 1 means that major
improvement is necessary
- A rating of 0 means that urgent
improvement is necessary
How do I find out the ratings of food businesses in
South Somerset?
You can access food hygiene ratings on the move, for free, by
downloading a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme App for your iPhone or
Android device. With well over 90% of Local Authorities across the
country now uploading their hygiene scores into the national
scheme, whether you are in Yeovil or York, you will be able to
check your smart phone app to check a hygiene score. Visit
the Food
Standards Agency ratings webpage where you can download the App
for your type of device, as well as search for a food hygiene
rating or inspection result given to a business.
Link to records for South Somerset District
Council where you can view food hygiene ratings for your
favourite restaurant, café or takeaway. Please note that
ratings are given at the time of inspection and changes may have
occurred at the premises since this date.
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