Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are qualified food safety professionals employed by your local authority. They have legal authority to enter any food business at any reasonable time to inspect the premises and records.
Inspection frequency
How often an EHO visits depends on your current FHRS rating:
- 0–2: Every 6 months
- 3: Every 12–18 months
- 4–5: Every 2 years or longer
Visits outside this schedule can happen if there are customer complaints, food poisoning reports, or significant changes to your business.
Announced or unannounced?
Most inspections are unannounced. The EHO wants to see how you operate on a normal day, not a special "clean-up" day. Some inspections, particularly re-rating visits after improvement, may be scheduled in advance.
What happens during an inspection
Opening interview
The EHO will introduce themselves, explain the purpose of the visit, and ask about your business — what you serve, who your customers are, how many staff you have, and what your food safety management system looks like.
Kitchen walk-through
The EHO will inspect the food preparation areas. They will look at:
- Temperature of fridges, freezers, and hot-holding equipment
- Food storage practices (separation of raw and cooked foods)
- Cleanliness of surfaces, floors, walls, and equipment
- Handwashing facilities (hot water, soap, paper towels)
- Pest control measures (traps, proofing, signs of activity)
- Waste management
Records review
The EHO will ask to see your due diligence records. This is where Spotless Score makes a real difference:
- Temperature logs (fridge, freezer, cooking)
- Cleaning schedules
- Staff training records
- Pest control logs
- Supplier delivery checks
- HACCP documentation
Closing discussion
At the end of the visit, the EHO will discuss their findings and give a provisional rating. You'll receive the official rating in writing within 14 days. You have the right to appeal if you disagree.
Your rights during an inspection
- You can ask to see the EHO's identification
- You can have someone accompany the EHO during the visit
- You can ask for clarification on any points raised
- You can request a re-rating visit after making improvements (there may be a fee)
Appeals and re-ratings
If you disagree with your rating, you can:
- Appeal within 14 days (if the EHO made a factual error)
- Request a re-rating after making improvements (usually a fee applies)
- Request a revisit (Wales only, free within the first 3 months)
See Achieving a 5-Star Rating for a structured approach to improving your score.