African Spices Limited food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Hackney
African Spices Limited holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 5 December 2020, more than 5 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: 40 Ridley Road, Hackney, E8 2NR
How it compares in Hackney
In Hackney, 66% of rated places manage a 5, so African Spices Limited sits behind roughly 1,470 nearby businesses. 19% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,470 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 422 | 19% | ← African Spices Limited | |
| 3 out of 5 | 215 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 78 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 395 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Good
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 African Spices Limited 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 African Spices Limited, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adom Trading Retailers - other | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2023 |
| 91 Bites Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2025 |
| Abla Dalston Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 308 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Acqua 7 Retailers - other | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2022 |
| Abraco Dalston Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2025 |
| 392 Kingsland Road Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| 01Adana Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| AA Food Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
Questions about African Spices Limited
What is African Spices Limited's food hygiene rating?
African Spices Limited has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Hackney Council on 5 December 2020.
Is African Spices Limited safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was African Spices Limited last inspected?
African Spices Limited was last inspected on 5 December 2020, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hackney Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at African Spices Limited?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does African Spices Limited compare to other places in Hackney?
66% of the 2,218 rated food businesses in Hackney hold the top rating of 5, while African Spices Limited holds a 4. 422 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Hackney Council inspects African Spices Limited 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 African Spices Limited and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hackney inspects and rates 2,613 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hackney →
The official record is held by the council: https://hackney.gov.uk/environmental-health#food
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 →