Scores on the Doors scheme
Have you ever wondered about the hygiene of your favourite restaurant's kitchen?
Ealing Council is one of a number of authorities taking part in an innovative project called the London Scores on the Doors scheme.
This scheme encourages and recognises the many food businesses that achieve full legal compliance. It also allows the public to find out about food hygiene standards within businesses and make informed decisions about where they eat in London.
It works by each business being awarded a star rating following a food hygiene inspection by the council’s food safety team.
This rating shows how well the inspector considered the business complied with food hygiene legislation. The inspection includes an assessment of the structure and practices within the business and the management of handling food safely.
Businesses with excellent standards of food hygiene will be awarded five stars ranging down to zero stars for those with very poor hygiene standards:
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Five stars - excellent
Very high standards of food safety management. Fully compliant with food safety legislation. -
Four stars - very good
Good food safety management. High standard of compliance with food safety legislation. -
Three stars - good
Good level of legal compliance. Some more effort might be required. -
Two stars - broadly compliant
Broadly compliant with food safety legislation. More effort required to meet all legal requirements. -
One star - Poor
Poor level of compliance with food safety legislation – much more effort required. -
No stars - very poor
A general failure to comply with legal requirements. Little or no appreciation of food safety. Major effort required.
This score applies to the conditions found at the last inspection only. It may not represent the current condition of the business.
As part of the scheme, businesses are given a window sticker and certificate showing how many stars have been achieved. Display of these is voluntary at present but it is hoped this can become a legal requirement in London in the future.
In addition to the sticker and certificate all star ratings in London and nationally are published on the Food Standards Agency website.
Businesses and consumers can be confident that the scheme is consistent across London because the scores used to decide the star rating are based on a national code of practice. The same scheme is used by nearly all councils in London (and a few outside of London).
Businesses who want to improve their rating need to attend to everything outlined in their last inspection report before their next routine inspection, and that they comply with current food safety legislation. Businesses should contact the food safety team on (020) 8825 6666 if they need further advice about what is required.
Further information about the scheme is available on the
Food Standards Agency website.