Harlow Food Express food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Harlow
Harlow Food Express 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 13 May 2021, 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: 10 Pollard Hatch, Harlow, Essex, CM19 4LA
How it compares in Harlow
That puts Harlow Food Express among the 497 places in Harlow holding top marks, 81% 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 | 497 | 81% | ← Harlow Food Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 78 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 76 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 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 Harlow Food Express 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 Harlow Food Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashlyns Organics Ltd At Jerounds Primary School School/college/university | 313 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| Ashlyns Organics Ltd At Katherines Primary Academy School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2025 |
| ECL Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| Community Embrace UK Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2025 |
| BG Food Shop TRAPEZA Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2022 |
| Chicken Corner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Akhter Early Learning Centre Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Dorringtons Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
Questions about Harlow Food Express
What is Harlow Food Express's food hygiene rating?
Harlow Food Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Harlow Council on 13 May 2021.
Is Harlow Food Express 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 Harlow Food Express last inspected?
Harlow Food Express was last inspected on 13 May 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Harlow Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Harlow Food Express?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Harlow Food Express compare to other places in Harlow?
81% of the 611 rated food businesses in Harlow hold the top rating of 5, and Harlow Food Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Harlow Council inspects Harlow Food Express 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 Harlow Food Express 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
Harlow inspects and rates 687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Harlow →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.harlow.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 →