how the business manages ways of keeping food safe, looking at processes, training and systems to ensure good hygiene is maintained. The officer can then assess the level of confidence in standards being maintained in the future Businesses that are of a lower risk and higher rating are often inspected every two years. For organisations that are of a very low-risk category, the assessment may even be more than two years. Ultimately it is down to the officer to decide how long is needed between each visit. Structure and cleanliness:the condition of the structure of the buildings, the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities When scoring a 5 on a food hygiene rating, this means that the standards are very good and the business is complying with the law set by the FSA after scoring between 0 and 15 points on their inspection.

It is vital when working with food that guidelines are in place and kept up to date regularly, to ensure the safety of consumers as well as a good food hygiene rating for your business. Organisations with a good reputation in food hygiene are more likely to stand apart from their competitors who do not offer the same standards, which is another incentive for businesses to get the best rating possible. Any business that is working with or handling consumable goods should have a food hygiene rating. Many of the organisations that are a part of this scheme include: Following a hygiene inspection of your premises by a food safety officer from the City of London you will be told in writing, either at the time or within 14 days (this includes weekends and public holidays) what your food hygiene rating is. businesses that are low-risk to public health, for example, newsagents, chemist shops or visitor centres selling pre-wrapped goods that do not require refrigeration Confidence in management: how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe

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A rating shows how well the business is meeting legal requirements regarding food hygiene. It givesconsumers an idea of what's going on in the kitchen or behind closed doors.

participants liked the simplicity of having all food businesses included in the scheme. Regulating all food businesses on the same basis was also seen as an important way to make the scheme easy for consumers to use.

Participants were asked about six potential changes to the regulatory approach. These were introduced through scenarios, setting out the potential change and what it might mean for specific businesses. Full details of the scenarios can be found in Chapter 4. The potential use of an independent audit for assurance: Run in partnership with the FSA, the food hygiene rating scheme Food Hygiene Rating Scheme(FHRS) is designed to help consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving them information about the hygiene standards in restaurants, cafés, takeaways, hotels and food shops. There are two groups of exempt businesses which are inspected by the local authority food safety officer but are not given a food hygiene rating: