Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
Appealing against a hygiene rating
If you feel the food hygiene rating you received is unfair (eg it doesn't reflect your hygiene standards and management controls), you have 21 days to appeal.
The appeal has to be made in writing within the period of 21 days, beginning with the date of notification. The numbers of ‘days’ includes weekends and bank holidays. No appeals will be considered 21 days after the food business has been notified of its score.
If your food business is awarded a food hygiene rating less than 5 (very good) your food hygiene rating will not be published on the food standards agency website until the end of the 21 day appeal period. However the food business operator or person in charge of the food business can make a written request by email to food safety team indicating that they do not wish to appeal against their rating, their food hygiene rating will then be published at the next available date. The food hygiene ratings for businesses are uploaded every two weeks.
A food hygiene rating scheme appeal form (PDF, 79kb) is available to download. You can post or email your completed form to the food team.
After you've made the appeal, the lead officer for food safety or a nominated deputy will respond to your appeal within 21 days of the date that it was submitted.
Page last updated: 13 June 2023
