All food businesses in Wirral are regularly visited by our team of Environmental Health Officers to review and rate their food hygiene and safety standards. After each inspection the food business will receive a rating between 0 (urgent improvement necessary) and 5 (very good).
- Find out more about food hygiene ratings at the Food Standards Agency
- View food hygiene ratings in Wirral at the Food Standards Agency
How food business owners can appeal their rating
If you believe your rating does not represent the standards found at the time of the visit you can appeal your score before it appears on the website. In the first instance, you should try and resolve the matter informally with the inspecting officer.
If the matter cannot be resolved a formal appeal can be made. This must be in writing within 21 days from the date of notification. If you do appeal, the lead officer for food safety will review the score and communicate the outcome of the appeal to you within 21 days.
Appeal against your food hygiene rating
Right to reply
As the food business operator of the establishment you have a right to reply in respect of the food hygiene rating given following your inspection.
The purpose of the right to reply is to enable you to give an explanation of subsequent actions that have been taken to make improvements. You can also explain mitigation for the circumstances found at the time of the inspection.
Reply to your food hygiene rating
Request a re-visit
If you make the improvements to hygiene standards that are highlighted in your inspection report, you can request a re-visit. This will give you an opportunity to achieve a new and higher food hygiene rating.
There will be a charge of £187 for each non-statutory re-visit carried out at your request. The re-visit will be carried out within three months of receipt of your application and payment.
If you wish to improve your score under the Confidence in Management category, officers may visit toward the end of this period. This is to ensure that the management controls have been fully implemented and demonstrated over a period of time.
Remember your score can go up, down or remain unchanged.
Find out more about the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme revisit procedure
Request a food hygiene re-visit
Further information
For advice and guidance on the appeal, right to reply or re-visit process, please email environmentalhealth@wirral.gov.uk