Food hygiene ratings

The food hygiene rating scheme generally includes businesses that supply food directly to the customer, for example:

• restaurants
• cafes
• takeaways
• pubs, including wet sales only
• hotels, guest houses and B&Bs
• supermarkets
• smaller retailers, for example corner shops and delicatessens
• schools and nurseries
• residential care homes and nursing homes
• wholesalers who sell to the public
• village halls, social clubs and churches that have wet sales or that do their own food preparation, for example lunch clubs
• market stalls
• mobile vendors
• home caterers

Businesses that do not need to get a rating

If a business does not supply food directly to the consumer, it does not need a rating. Only the name of the food business will appear on the Food Standards Agency website saying they are exempt. They include:

• farming and other primary production
• manufacturers and packers
• importers and exporters
• distributors and transporters

Other 'low risk' businesses, where the main activity is not food related may also not need a rating including:

• newsagents that only sell pre-packed confectionery
• visitor centres selling tins of biscuits or other wrapped low-risk food
• leisure centres with vending machines only
• chemists (pharmacies) selling pre-wrapped confectionery or health foods only
• village halls that hire businesses for catering purposes, or serve hot drinks and biscuits only
• childminders and other businesses that provide care in a home setting
• private addresses that do not advertise to the public, such as establishments where caring services are provided in the home environment as part of a family unit