Food hygiene

Contents

Food hygiene advice

Good food hygiene is the key to serving safe food, while also meeting legal standards.

You can find more information about good food hygiene on the Food Standards Agency website, including:

Pre-inspection advisory visits

The Council offers an optional advisory service ahead of an unannounced food hygiene inspection, for:

  • New businesses before they start trading
  • Existing businesses that have experienced difficulties between routine inspections
  • Existing businesses that have technical questions, require complex food safety advice, are considering introducing a different manufacturing process, or need a specific documentation review.

Types of advice

Type What's included Cost
Simple advice
  • Answers to simple questions that are quick to respond to
 Free
Advice for new businesses
  • Pre-inspection of your proposed premises
  • Report highlighting issues that require your attention before the full registration inspection takes place
 £171 (including VAT)
Advice for existing businesses (2 hour review)
  • Full review of your premises and food safety documentation i.e. Safer Food Better Business (SFBB), before the routine inspection due date
  • Report highlighting requirements that need to be addressed to improve your rating, as well as legal requirements and advisory matters
  • Tailored advice to your business
 £171 (including VAT)
Complex food safety advice

Specialist food safety advice of a more technical nature, including:

  • Detailed food labelling advice
  • The assessment of HACCP records and procedures
  • Implementation of a specific food process
 £105 per hour (including VAT)

Request a visit

To request an advisory visit, you first need to pay for the service online, under 'Food Business Advice.'

Make a payment

After you have paid, an officer will contact you to discuss your requirements and arrange a suitable time to visit. To discuss your specific needs with an officer, contact the environmental health team. 

If no visit or work has been undertaken by the officer, a full refund will be made minus a £10 administration fee. If the officer visited on the arranged date and the applicant did not attend, no refund is available.

An advisory visit does not guarantee a higher rating on the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.