Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Scores on the doors

Restaurants and food venues throughout Oxfordshire will soon be getting a Score on the Door rating their food hygiene standards.              

This will allow customers to make informed choices about where they eat or buy takeaway food.

Our environmental health team, who inspect all food businesses in the Vale, will give a star rating based on a scoring system, as set out below. The results of their inspections will be available online.

Star rating              Rating               Rating description

*****                       Excellent            Excellent record of compliance. Standards
                                                         are high and conform to industry codes with
                                                         competent management.

****                        Very good         Standards are generally high with a
                                                         reasonable management record.

***                          Good                 Some non compliance with statutory
                                                         obligations but standards are being
                                                         maintained or improved.

**                           Fair                    Some major non compliance with obligations.
                                                         More effort is required to prevent fall in
                                                         standards.

*                             Poor                   General failure to satisfy obligations with low
                                                         standards. Poor management knowledge.

No stars                Very poor          Almost total non-compliance with obligations
                                                         and poor management track record.

* The rating represents the situation at the time of the inspection and may not be representative of overall, long-term food hygiene standards of the business.

The Food Standards Agency sets out how food hygiene inspections are carried out according to a code of practice. Businesses are assessed on:

• Hygiene - including food handling and temperature control
• Structure - including cleanliness, condition of structure, lighting, ventilation, washing facilities
• Confidence in management - including evidence of a satisfactory, documented food safety management system such as "Safer Food Better Business". 

If you are a food business

Scores on the Doors will be a good advert for high standards of hygiene and could improve your reputation. The Food Standards Agency offers a Safer Food Better Business pack that can help you achieve compliance with the relevant legislation - call 0845 6060667.

Frequently asked questions