If you’re unhappy with the rating you have received for your food business, you can do one of the following:
Reinspection
If you complete all of the work required in the inspection letter, you can apply for a reinspection which will cost £165. Unless you hear from us within 10 working days following submission of your request, your reinspection will be carried out, unannounced, within the next three months.
The hygiene standards in your premises will be reassessed and a new food hygiene rating will be given. This rating can go up, down or stay the same depending on our findings during the visit.
Please note: you can request as many reinspections as you need at a cost of £165 each.
Arrange for a reinspection
‘Right to Reply’
As the food business operator you have a ‘Right to Reply’ with regards to a food hygiene rating given following your inspection.
This 'Right to Reply' allows you to give an explanation of subsequent actions that have been taken to make the required improvements as detailed in the inspection letter, or to explain any unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection. It is not for making complaints or for criticising the scheme or food safety officer.
We will review your comments before being published on the Food Standards Agency website alongside your food hygiene rating.
Have your 'Right to Reply'
Appeal
If you consider that your rating score is unfair or wrong, in that it does not fairly reflect the hygiene standards/management controls found during the inspection, then you have the right to appeal.
In the first instance you should contact the inspecting officer whose name appears on the inspection letter and make your concerns known. The officer will explain how the rating score was determined and discuss a course of action.
If you’re still not satisfied you can appeal, but this must be lodged within 21 days of receiving your inspection letter. If you decide to appeal, your rating will not be published on the Food Standards Agency website until the outcome of the appeal has been determined.
Appeal your food hygiene rating