Frequently Asked Questions

The FHRS is a scheme run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is inspected and given a rating from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). Ratings are based on food handling practices, the condition of the premises, and food safety management systems.

Our data comes directly from the FSA's official API — the same source used by local authorities. We sync every 24 hours, so ratings are typically no more than a day behind. This is significantly faster than most third-party sites, which may cache data for weeks.

A rating of 2 means "Improvement Necessary." It indicates that during an unannounced inspection, the Environmental Health Officer found issues that need addressing. This isn't technically a "fail," but it signals real problems. Delivery platforms now display ratings, and a 2 can significantly impact order volume.

Scotland uses a different system called the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS), which gives pass/fail rather than 0–5 ratings. Currently, HygieneFix covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — the regions that use FHRS. We're exploring adding Scottish data in a future update.

Yes. Most local authorities allow businesses to request an early reinspection once improvements have been made. Some charge a fee (typically £150–£200), others offer it free. Contact your local authority's Environmental Health team directly.

Inspections cover three main areas: (1) Hygiene — food handling, preparation, cross-contamination controls, staff personal hygiene. (2) Structural — cleanliness, condition of facilities, pest control, ventilation. (3) Confidence in Management — documented food safety systems (HACCP/SFBB), training records, track record.

Inspection frequency depends on your current risk rating. High-risk businesses (rated 0–2) are typically inspected every 6 months. Low-risk businesses with a rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2–3 years. Inspections are always unannounced.

When you purchase an action plan (£49), our AI analyses your specific inspection results and business type to generate a personalised improvement checklist. It identifies exactly where you lost points and gives prioritised, actionable steps to improve your score. The report is delivered as a professional PDF to your email.

We can't guarantee any specific outcome — the final rating is always at the inspector's discretion. However, the action plan addresses the specific areas identified in your inspection report and follows the FSA's published guidance for each scoring category. Businesses that follow the recommendations typically see significant improvements.

Searching and viewing ratings is completely free — no signup required. The personalised AI action plan costs £49 as a one-time payment. This includes the full analysis, prioritised recommendations, and a PDF report delivered to your email. There are no subscriptions or recurring charges.

In Wales, yes — the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 makes display mandatory, with penalties for non-compliance. In England and Northern Ireland, display is voluntary but strongly encouraged.