What does an EHO inspector actually look for?

EHO inspections under the Food Standards Agency framework score across three areas. Each is independently rated, then combined into your overall Food Hygiene Rating (the 0-to-5 score you display on the front door).

1. Hygiene compliance (the visible kitchen)

The inspector looks at:

• Hand-wash facilities: hot water, soap, foot-pedal or sensor-operated tap, paper towels, available everywhere food is handled.
• Food storage: probe thermometer logs, refrigeration temperatures, raw/cooked separation, allergen labelling.
• Cleaning evidence: visible cleanliness PLUS documented schedules and signed-off completion.
• Personal hygiene: protective clothing, hair restraint, hand-wash compliance observed during the visit.

2. Structural compliance (the fabric of the kitchen)

The inspector looks at:

• Walls, floors and ceilings — sound, clean, free of cracks or pest harbourage.
• Ventilation and extract — efficient working order. Visible canopy and filter cleanliness matters here.
• Pest control evidence — current contract with a pest control provider, accessible records.
• Drainage — adequate, clear, no backflow risk.

3. Confidence in management (the paperwork)

This is where many kitchens lose points unnecessarily. The inspector asks:

• Show me your HACCP / Safer Food Better Business pack — when did you last review it?
• Show me your cleaning schedule — when did you last sign it off?
• Show me your probe calibration log — when did you last calibrate?
• Show me your delivery temperature records — are they consistent and current?
• Who is your designated food safety lead? What is their qualification?

Documentary trails matter as much as the kitchen itself. A spotless kitchen with no documentary trails scores 3. A workmanlike kitchen with full documentary trails scores 5.

What this means for you

If your last EHO score was 3 or below, the lowest-effort improvement is usually documentary, not structural. We provide cleaning schedule templates, probe logs and HACCP-aligned templates as part of every EHO pre-inspection clean.