Rating: Generally Satisfactory
27,385 establishments with this rating
What Does Food Hygiene Rating 3 Mean?
A food hygiene rating of 3 means Generally Satisfactory. The business meets basic food hygiene standards but inspectors identified areas that need improvement.
A rating of 3 indicates that hygiene practices are acceptable overall but there are issues that should be addressed. These might include gaps in food safety record-keeping, some structural maintenance needed, or areas where food handling practices could be tightened up.
What Inspectors Look For
Businesses rated 3 typically score moderate penalty points (10–20) in one or more of the three inspection areas. The issues found are not severe enough to warrant urgent action but do need attention to prevent standards from slipping further.
Is a food hygiene rating of 3 bad?
A rating of 3 is not bad — it means “Generally Satisfactory” and indicates the business meets basic food hygiene requirements. However, it is below the national average, as around 69% of UK food businesses achieve a rating of 5. The business has room for improvement.
What does food hygiene rating 3 mean for restaurants?
For restaurants, a rating of 3 means the food safety officer found the establishment to be generally satisfactory but identified areas needing improvement. This could relate to food handling practices, building cleanliness or maintenance, or documentation and management systems. The restaurant is still considered safe to eat at.