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Qualified food officers from the Council are required to inspect food businesses regularly. They check food is being handled and produced hygienically and is safe to eat. They will also identify any foreseeable risks of food poisoning or injury which might arise if the food is eaten.
Visits are usually carried out without prior notification. However, officers will make an appointment where the food business operates from a domestic premises.
The inspectors will carry out the following checks:
After a food hygiene inspection, your food business will be given a hygiene rating based on compliance with food law at the time of the visit.
Our inspectors will always try to resolve any problems informally. However, where there is a risk to public health, formal action may be necessary. This could involve the serving of a legal notice, prosecution, or in extreme cases closure of the business.
For more information on hygiene inspections and enforcement please visit Food safety inspections and enforcement | Food Standards Agency
This will depend on the public health risk posed by the business. It can vary from six months (high risk) to 36 months (low risk category E). Scores are based on the following criteria: