What Is a Hygiene Rating?
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and local authorities inspect food premises under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).
Businesses receive a rating from 0 to 5 based on hygiene, structure, and food-safety management:
| Rating | Meaning |
| 5 | Very Good |
| 4 | Good |
| 3 | Generally Satisfactory |
| 2 | Improvement Necessary |
| 1 | Major Improvement Necessary |
| 0 | Urgent Improvement Necessary |
The rating must be displayed on-site and appears publicly on the FSA website.
Why Insurers Care About Your Rating
Insurers view hygiene ratings as a direct indicator of operational risk.
Low scores suggest increased exposure to:
- Food-poisoning or allergen claims
- Regulatory fines or temporary closure
- Inadequate record-keeping or staff training
Depending on your rating, insurers may:
- Raise premiums or excesses
- Impose conditions (e.g. follow-up inspections)
Decline cover for 0–1-rated premises
What Ratings Tell Insurers
- Food-Handling Practices – storage, cooking, temperature control
- Cleanliness & Pest Control – daily routines, waste disposal
- Building Structure – walls, floors, lighting, ventilation
- Food-Safety Systems – documented HACCP, staff training, allergen logs
Risks of a Low Rating
- Public Liability Claims – food poisoning or allergen reaction
- Business Interruption – closure by Environmental Health Officers
- Reputation Damage – poor Google reviews, FSA listing
- Insurance Difficulty – fewer quotes and higher premiums
Insurance Impact by Rating
| Rating | Insurance Implications |
| 5 | Preferred risk – lowest premium |
| 4 | Acceptable – standard terms |
| 3 | Borderline – insurer may request action plan |
| 2 | High risk – premium load or inspection required |
| 1–0 | Very high risk – most insurers decline |
How to Improve Your Rating (and Your Insurability)
- Document Everything – cleaning logs, pest visits, training records
- Maintain HACCP Compliance – review and update regularly
- Fix Structural Issues Quickly – flooring, seals, ventilation
- Train All Staff – allergen awareness, cross-contamination prevention
- Request a Re-Inspection after improvements
What to Show Your Insurer
- Current FSA certificate and FHRS score
- Food-safety policy & HACCP documentation
- Staff training records
- Pest-control and deep-clean certificates
Providing this upfront can help secure better premiums and smoother renewals.
Use Your Rating as a Sales Tool
A 5-star rating not only lowers your insurance cost but also:
Builds public trust
Builds public trust
Improves long-term insurability
Why Choose SRS Insurance
- Experts in hospitality and food-service risks
- Access to specialist insurers for restaurants, cafés, and takeaways
- Support for new businesses or rating improvement plans
- Guidance on public-liability, contents, and business-interruption cover
- Fast quotes and same-day documents
