How Safe is Your Food? A Deep Dive into Food Hygiene Ratings Across the UK
Food hygiene is a factor we tend to take for granted when choosing where to eat. We’ll focus on menu options, convenience, and availability, and (barring any egregious violations) end up paying little attention to how successfully the establishment adheres to health codes.
However, our recent analysis has revealed that certain regions in the UK are struggling with food hygiene, with a significant percentage of businesses falling short of basic standards.
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) ensures food businesses maintain the highest possible standards for food handling, preparation, and cleanliness. To achieve this, the FSA’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) regularly inspects and rates food establishments across the country on a scale from zero (urgent improvement required) to five (very good).
Using their data, we collected the percentage of food businesses falling short of hygiene standards across the UK. From city centres to rural communities, we break down the key findings by region in this report, giving an insight into where diners should exercise caution in order to avoid dodgy food.
Key Findings by Region:
- Scotland: Aberdeen City (15.01%) and South Lanarkshire (9.77%) lead in failing food businesses, with Glasgow and Edinburgh also hitting over 8%
- London: Waltham Forest (13.13%) and Ealing (10.41%) have high failure rates, while Hounslow (1.75%) and Greenwich (1.52%) fare better
- Northern Regions: Areas like Cumbria, Sefton, and Westmorland & Furness report very low failure rates, all under 2%
- South and West: Dorset (0.30%), Somerset (0.60%), and Bournemouth (0.73%) boast some of the lowest failure rates
Avoid Eating in These UK Regions with the Highest Rates of Poor Food Hygiene
In some parts of the UK, the percentage of food businesses with poor hygiene ratings is alarmingly high, while in others, the standards remain commendably strong. Below, we explore regions with the most concerning and the most reassuring hygiene records.
Scotland
Certain areas in Scotland are falling behind in food hygiene. Aberdeen City tops the list, with 15.01% of its food businesses receiving a failing hygiene rating. South Lanarkshire also has a high rate of failure, with 9.77% of businesses scoring poorly. Scotland’s major cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, are not immune either, with both cities reporting more than 8% of businesses failing their inspections.
London
As one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse food cities, London sees a wide range of results when it comes to hygiene standards. While certain boroughs such as Waltham Forest (13.13%) and Ealing (10.41%) report high percentages of businesses with poor ratings, other areas perform much better. For example, Hounslow (1.75%) and Greenwich (1.52%) are among the best in the capital, with very few establishments requiring significant improvements.
Northern Regions
In contrast to the concerning trends in some urban centres, the northern regions of the UK show more promising hygiene results. Areas such as Cumbria, Sefton, and Westmorland & Furness report some of the lowest failure rates, all under 2%. These figures suggest that food businesses in these regions are taking hygiene seriously, offering reassurance to residents and visitors alike.
South and West
Moving further south, the trend of low failure rates continues. Dorset, Somerset, and Bournemouth boast some of the best hygiene records in the UK, with failure rates of just 0.30%, 0.60%, and 0.73%, respectively. These coastal and countryside areas, known for their fresh local produce, are setting a strong example when it comes to food hygiene, with businesses demonstrating a clear commitment to safety and cleanliness.
Full Dataset: UK Regions with the Worst Health Ratings
If your region isn’t mentioned here, that’s probably a good sign! However, it’s always worth checking the full dataset to see how local food businesses are performing in terms of hygiene. The dataset below includes the number of food businesses and the percentage of those with poor hygiene ratings for each region across the UK.
In summary, while some regions stand out for their exceptional hygiene records, others are in need of urgent attention. In particular, food businesses in parts of Scotland and London are among the worst performers. If you’re concerned about food safety, it’s worth taking extra caution when eating out in these regions.
Methodology and Sources
Utilizing data from the Food Standards Agency, we gathered data on the hygiene ratings of food businesses across the United Kingdom, focusing on those with scores indicating that improvement is necessary. “Food businesses” include restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways, food stalls, canteens, hotels, supermarkets, food shops, schools, hospitals, and care homes. We limited our focus to regions containing at least 2,000 food businesses, totalling 92 regions across the UK.
Food businesses in the UK are rated on a scale from 0 to 5, as follows:
- 0 (Urgent improvement required)
- 1 (Major improvement necessary)
- 2 (Some improvement necessary)
- 3 (Generally satisfactory)
- 4 (Good hygiene standards)
- 5 (Very good hygiene standards)
The ratings reflect the handling, storage, and preparation of food, along with overall cleanliness and the implementation of safety management practices.
Ratings are assigned by local authorities and are updated every 28 days.
Note: Scotland employs a pass/fail system rather than the numerical scale used elsewhere in the UK. For the purpose of our study, we included counts of Scottish food businesses that failed their inspections.
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