International food store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cambridge City
International food store holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 19 December 2024, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 96 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
How it compares in Cambridge City
A 1 is rare: only 10 of 1,287 rated places in Cambridge City score this low, about one in 129. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 998 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ← International food store | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 187 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 International food store the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to International food store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| bedouin cambridge limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 10 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Bacchanalia Retailers - other | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2021 |
| Arjuna Wholefoods Manufacturers/packers | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2023 |
| Bibimbap Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 130 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Alamin Stores Retailers - other | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2024 |
| Blue Mountain Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| 5 Blends Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| Arjuna Ltd Kitchen 1 & Ground Floor Takeaway/sandwich shop | 338 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
Questions about International food store
What is International food store's food hygiene rating?
International food store has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Cambridge City Council on 19 December 2024.
Is International food store safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was International food store last inspected?
International food store was last inspected on 19 December 2024, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cambridge City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at International food store?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does International food store compare to other places in Cambridge City?
78% of the 1,287 rated food businesses in Cambridge City hold the top rating of 5, while International food store holds a 1. 10 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cambridge City Council inspects International food store 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 International food store and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Cambridge City, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Cambridge City
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cambridge City inspects and rates 1,474 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cambridge City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cambridge.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 →