Data Sources & Methodology
Every food hygiene rating on HygieneScore comes from official government data. This page explains where our data comes from, how often it's updated, and what limitations you should be aware of.
🏛️ Food Standards Agency (FSA)
All food hygiene ratings are sourced from the Food Standards Agency's FHRS API. The FSA is the independent government department responsible for food safety across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, ratings come from Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
- 🔄 Update Frequency
- The FSA updates ratings as inspections are carried out by local authorities. We sync our data regularly to reflect the latest inspections and ratings changes.
- ⚠️ Limitations
- Ratings reflect conditions at the time of inspection and may not represent current standards. Businesses can request a re-inspection after making improvements. Some exempt businesses are not rated.
⭐ Rating Scale
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, food businesses are rated on a scale of 0 to 5:
In Scotland, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) uses Pass/Improvement Required instead of the numerical scale.
📍 Business Information
Additional business details such as photos, opening hours, and customer reviews are sourced from publicly available business listing data. This information supplements the official FSA ratings to give you a more complete picture of each establishment.
📊 Data Coverage
Disclaimer: HygieneScore is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, or any local authority. Ratings are provided for informational purposes only. For the most up-to-date rating of any establishment, visit ratings.food.gov.uk.