Scotland's food hygiene scheme: what a Pass means
In Scotland a food business gets a Pass or an Improvement Required result, never a score out of five. A Pass means it met the legal requirements at inspection. It cannot be translated into a star rating, and we never pretend otherwise.
A different scheme, not a different scale
England, Wales and Northern Ireland use the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: the 0 to 5 stars most people recognise. Scotland runs its own scheme entirely, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, and its result is a Pass or an Improvement Required. These are not two labels on the same scale. They are separate systems with different methods, and Food Standards Scotland is explicit that they are not comparable.
Source: Food Standards Scotland, “Food Hygiene Information Scheme”
What a Pass means
A Pass means the business met the legal requirements for food hygiene at its last inspection. Unlike the star scheme, it does not grade how far above the minimum a business sits, so a Pass does not distinguish a merely-compliant kitchen from an excellent one. It tells you the business cleared the bar, not by how much.
What Improvement Required means
Improvement Required means the inspector found that the business was not meeting the legal requirements and improvements are needed. As with a low star rating, it is information, not a closure order; a business can be trading while it addresses what was found. Some Scottish businesses also hold an Eat Safe award, a separate, higher recognition for exemplary standards.
Source: Food Standards Scotland, “Food Hygiene Information Scheme”
Why we don't rank Scotland against England
Because the schemes are not comparable, showing a Scottish venue a five-star chart, a percentile against English businesses, or a place in a UK league table would be inventing a number that does not exist. So on this site a Scottish venue gets a straight account of its Pass or Improvement Required result and its date, fewer sentences, but true ones, and never a star rating it was never given.
Common questions
What does a Pass mean in Scotland?
That the business met the legal requirements for food hygiene at its last inspection. Scotland's scheme does not grade above the minimum, so a Pass confirms compliance without saying how far above the bar the business sits.
Does Scotland use the 0 to 5 star ratings?
No. Scotland runs the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, which gives a Pass or an Improvement Required result, not a score out of five. The two schemes are not comparable.
What is an Eat Safe award?
A separate Scottish recognition, above a straightforward Pass, for businesses demonstrating exemplary food-safety management. Not every area operates it.
Can I compare a Scottish rating to an English one?
Not directly. They come from different schemes with different methods, and Food Standards Scotland states they are not comparable. A Pass is not the same as, and cannot be converted into, a 5.
Check a specific place
Every food business in the UK has a published rating. Look up a restaurant, takeaway, pub or shop by name, or browse every council area.
More guides
- What does a 0 food hygiene rating mean?
- Does a low hygiene rating mean the food is unsafe?
- Does a business have to display its hygiene rating?
- How often are food businesses inspected?
- What is a good food hygiene rating?
- How to check a restaurant's food hygiene rating
- The three scores behind a food hygiene rating, explained
- A place has a low hygiene rating: what can you do?
- What does 'awaiting inspection' mean on a food hygiene rating?
Ratings and the rules described here come from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, published under the Open Government Licence. This is general information, not legal advice, the official record for any business is held by the FSA and its local council.