Food Hygiene Ratings

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is a UK system run by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities to assess and publish food hygiene standards in businesses. This helps people to choose where to eat out or shop for food by providing clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards.

The scheme gives businesses a rating from 5 to 0 which is displayed at their premises and online so that consumers can make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.

• 5 – hygiene standards are very good

• 4 – hygiene standards are good

• 3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

• 2 – some improvement is necessary

• 1 – major improvement is necessary

• 0 – urgent improvement is required

Ratings are not a guide to food quality, but are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection. It is the responsibility of the business to comply with food hygiene law at all times. Ratings will move on a regular basis, and values shown on the Food Hygiene Ratings website are updated daily.

This includes:

• handling of food

• how food is stored

• how food is prepared

• cleanliness of facilities

• how food safety is managed

The food hygiene rating scheme does not provide information on the following factors:

• quality of the food

• customer service

• culinary skill

• presentation

• comfort

Ratings are published online as a searchable tool here: Search for ratings | Food Hygiene Ratings and as open data here:

Download ratings data | title

As a single snapshot, for illustrative purposes, taken on 5th October 2026, Surrey has a total of 9,142 food businesses under the scheme. 491 are exempt from a rating ( ), 1 is awaiting publication of inspection, and 745 are awaiting inspection. Of those with a Food Hygiene Rating awarded (8,175) 80% are rated as grade 5 ('very good') and 92% rated as grade 4 or above ('good' or 'very good'). See table beneath for this particular snapshot:

Again, as a single snapshot, for illustrative purposes, taken on 5th October 2026, the breakdown of food businesses by categorisations and current grading in the county is given beneath: