5

Heron Foods food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · Merthyr Tydfil

Heron Foods holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 12 January 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.

Address: 44 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8DE

How it compares in Merthyr Tydfil

That puts Heron Foods among the 314 places in Merthyr Tydfil holding top marks, 58% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.

Every rated food business in Merthyr Tydfil
5 out of 5 314 58% ← Heron Foods
4 out of 5 145 27%
3 out of 5 71 13%
2 out of 5 5 1%
1 out of 5 7 1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 48 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Heron Foods none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.

Food hygiene ratings nearby

The closest food businesses to Heron Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Big Dog Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 12 yards away 5 - Very good 28 November 2025
Davs Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 12 yards away 5 - Very good 29 April 2026
High Street Ice Cream Parlour Takeaway/sandwich shop 12 yards away 5 - Very good 14 July 2025
Fresh Dill Retailers - other 60 yards away 5 - Very good 18 July 2024
Amazeme (Treats and Sweets) Retailers - other 68 yards away 5 - Very good 28 January 2026
Flame&Bake Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 68 yards away 5 - Very good 28 January 2026
Holland & Barrett Retailers - other 68 yards away 5 - Very good 6 December 2024
Greggs Retailers - other 82 yards away 5 - Very good 17 February 2026

Questions about Heron Foods

What is Heron Foods's food hygiene rating?

Heron Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Merthyr Tydfil Council on 12 January 2024.

Is Heron Foods safe to eat at?

The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was Heron Foods last inspected?

Heron Foods was last inspected on 12 January 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Merthyr Tydfil Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Heron Foods?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Heron Foods compare to other places in Merthyr Tydfil?

58% of the 542 rated food businesses in Merthyr Tydfil hold the top rating of 5, and Heron Foods is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Merthyr Tydfil Council inspects Heron Foods and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.

Tell me when this changes

The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Heron Foods and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Merthyr Tydfil inspects and rates 590 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Merthyr Tydfil

The official record is held by the council: http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →