The official definition is that major improvement is necessary'.
Officers add points when there are certain shortcomings found during an inspection. The more points an establishment receives, the worse their hygiene rating will be.
Likewise, the fewer points a business receives, the better their rating will be.
An establishment with a food hygiene rating of 1 will have scored between 45 and 50 points.
If there is an imminent risk to the public, the Food Standards Agency can close down a business on the spot.
If the business does not get shut down, there is no imminent risk to the public. So, it is safe for you to eat there.
But, a business with a hygiene rating of 1 means there were shortcomings in one or more of the following areas:
But, a rating of 1 doesnt mean the establishment has a bad score in all three areas.
In fact, an establishment could be very clean and have good hygiene standards in place.
But they could receive a poor rating due to lack of procedures. Also, they might not have the systems in place to ensure food safety.
Lets look at an example. Lets say business A with a rating of 1 scores the following:
Another business (business B) may have the same 'Hygienic food handling' score. But they may score better in other areas.
Business B would get a rating of 4 with the following scores:
In other words, looking into the details of the rating may help you make a more informed decision.
Establishments could get a 1 star rating for a variety of reasons:
Businesses don't get a 1 star rating due to missing paperwork alone. Paperwork and procedures are a consideration. But this is not the only consideration.
For example, inspectors will look at hygiene practices such as regular handwashing. They also look to see they store food at the correct temperatures.
Other things inspectors look for include (but not limited to):
Businesses only get shut down if inspectors find an imminent risk to health. In other words, if the food is unsafe to eat.
In the case of a rating of 1 (major improvement necessary), a business will receive guidance on how to improve.
But unless there is an imminent risk to public health, the business can continue to trade. This is despite the business receiving such a low rating.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are 542,448 food businesses registered with the Food Standards Agency. Out of those: