Food premises inspection and investigation process

Food premises inspections

The primary responsibility for identifying food hazards and putting into place controls rests with food business operators. The inspections of food premises that are undertaken by the environmental health team for the following purposes:

• to find whether businesses are complying with food hygiene regulations and establish whether food is being handled, produced and sold hygienically
• to take action when this is not the case
• to work with local businesses in improving food hygiene standards
• to establish whether food is safe to eat

Food hygiene ratings

The food hygiene rating will be given to a business following the inspection. This will reflect the standards of food hygiene found on the day. The food hygiene rating is not a guide to food quality.

More information can be found on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme webpage(external link).