Northumberland County Council is moving from the ‘Scores on the Doors’ system and adopting the national ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme' which was launched on 02 April 2012.  We have moved to the national scheme because it will mean that the 'rating' given by this Council will be consistent with those given by councils elsewhere in the country.

The ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ is a local authority/Food Standards Agency partnership initiative.  The national scheme provides consumers with information about hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected by local food safety officers to check compliance with legal requirements – the food hygiene rating given reflects the inspection findings.

The purpose is to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places where they eat out or shop for food, thereby encouraging businesses to improve their hygiene standards.

The hygiene standards found at the time of inspection are rated on a scale of “0” to “5”. At the bottom of the scale is ‘0’ – this means urgent improvement is required. At the top of the scale is ‘5’ – this means the hygiene standards are very good.

Click here to view Northumberland's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme