Tesco food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Epping Forest
Tesco holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 1 August 2025, 11 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Tesco Express, 271-277 High Street, Ongar, CM5 9AA
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts Tesco among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 760 | 84% | ← Tesco | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Tesco 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 Tesco, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cheesemonger Retailers - other | 23 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Cheesemonger Retailers - other | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2023 |
| KG Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 51 yards away | 4 - Good | 29 October 2025 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2023 |
| Puzzlez playschool limited Caring Premises | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
| The Cock Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| St. Clare Hospice Care Trust Retailers - other | 191 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Coriander Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 209 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2025 |
Questions about Tesco
What is Tesco's food hygiene rating?
Tesco has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 1 August 2025.
Is Tesco 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Tesco last inspected?
Tesco was last inspected on 1 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Tesco?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Tesco compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Tesco is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects Tesco 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 Tesco 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Tesco is one of 78 rated food businesses in Ongar. See every hygiene rating in Ongar →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.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 →