Food safety

We investigate complaints people have about food produced and served in Hull. Choose from the links to the left to find out more about this, and how to make a complaint.

We also give advice to food businesses in Hull. Find out more about food businesses

Scores on the doors

Food safety in Hull

Important changes have been made to the way we can inform people on food safety standards.

We have to, under food safety legislation, inspect food businesses and then report our findings. The inspected business gets a copy of the report and is rated using a scoring system. The score determines when the business will be inspected next.

We are using this scoring system to produce a certificate that tells you how good the food standard of the business is. A copy of the certificate is sent to the business along with the inspection report and the information is then posted here.

At the moment, businesses do not have to display the certificate. The Food Standards Agency, which is supporting this scheme in Hull, is considering whether to make it a legal requirement for business to display the certificate.

So although it is not currently a legal requirement, food businesses are being encouraged to display the certificates in the window or on the door of their premises where it can easily be seen by customers. If the certificate is not displayed, you can ask the business to see the certificate or you can check details here.

Food business who have a commitment to providing a healthier environment and food choices and score an 'A' or 'B' rating on Score on the Doorsc, are also eligible to apply for the Healthier Options Award.

More information on the Healthier Options Award

Improving scores

Hull’s 'Scores On The Doors' pilot scheme was launched in February 2007 and, since then, improvements in standards have progressed far beyond expectations. Most of the credit for the advances made need to be directed to the businesses themselves.

Following our advice and direction they have made the necessary changes to make sure they are providing wholesome food to the residents of, and visitors to, Hull.

Food safety in Hull has traditionally been good but businesses have been keen and willing to take matters to a higher level still. It is the businesses that should receive the accolades for progress made.

The number of businesses achieving the 'Excellent' classification has increased from 39 to 234. This is more than a sixfold increase since the start of the scheme. The number of 'Good' businesses has also significantly improved. Just as important is the reduction in businesses reported as 'Poor' or 'Very poor - these gradings have seen a total reduction from 225 to 142.

You, the public, have also taken an active interest in the scheme, using the information to help you decide where to buy food. Many of you have contacted us to ask for the latest information and to voice support for the scheme.

You can download the list of current certificated businesses to see their scores. 

Your choice

You can use this information to choose where you eat out or shop. It will give high achieving businesses the recognition they deserve and provide under achieving businesses with an incentive to improve.

If you would like to find out more about how the score on the doors are calculated, you can download a copy of the scoring policy.

Scoring policy

Calculating the score on the door

When the scores for a business have been decided, we add them together to produce the final score. This then determines the grade and the rating for the business, as shown below.

Types of business that will be issued with the score on the door

Manufacturing businesses and wholesalers will not be included in the scheme unless they actually sell to the public. The sorts of businesses/organisations that are included are -

• cafes and restaurants 
• supermarkets
• takeaways (including fish and chip shops)
• public houses
• clubs
• nursing and residential homes
• canteens
• schools and nurseries
• hospitals
• butchers
• bakers
• mobile traders
• delicatessens, etc. 

Businesses such as chemist shops, many newsagents and post offices (that only sell sweets) for example, are classed as low risk and are not included.

The reason for doing this

We have been asked to run this scheme by the Food Standards Agency. Along with Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Stoke and Coventry we are part of a pilot that it is hoped will lead to a national scheme being developed. There is one other pilot in England that includes the 33 London Boroughs, and a further one in Scotland.

In addition to the Food Standards Agency scheme a number of local authorities already operate their own scoring schemes. However none of these schemes provide certificates for the business to display to the public.

Please note: Hull City Council makes every effort to keep the Scores on the Doors listings current and accurate. Food business operators are required, by law, to notify the council of any establishment or business under their control and notify the council of any changes. Some establishments listed may have recently closed or a new business may have opened without notification or may yet have to be assessed and scored. Any food business operator or other person who is aware of an incorrect or missing entry are asked to contact us (tel: (01482) 300 300). The scores and grading appearing in the listings represent the assessment made by the council at the time of the most recent inspection.

Food service leaflets

You can order a range of food service advice leaflets online -

 
Leaflets in minority languages
You can download food hygiene leaflets in various languages from the Food Standards Agency (link opens in new window) website. There are leaflets in (all links open in new windows) -

• Bengali
• Chinese
• Greek
• Gujurati
• Hindi
• Punjabi
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Welsh