An EHO is an environmental health officer, employed by the local authority and given powers under food safety law to inspect food premises. The visit is normally unannounced, it is not a formality, and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it produces the score that becomes a food hygiene rating displayed to the public.
What the officer looks at
Three things, and they are the three the rating is built from: how hygienically the food is handled, the condition and cleanliness of the structure and equipment, and how the business manages and records what it does. The third carries the most weight for a business that otherwise looks tidy.
What you will be asked for
The food safety management system, the records behind it, allergen information, supplier and traceability details, staff instruction records and evidence of pest control and cleaning. Having them in one place and being able to explain them is most of the visit.
What the report says
A written report follows setting out what was found, what must be put right and by when, and what is recommended rather than required. Requirements are enforceable; recommendations are advice. Reading which is which, and acting on the first, is what protects the next rating.
What happens if it goes badly
The officer can require improvements, serve a hygiene improvement notice, and in serious cases seek closure. Most poor visits are not that: they are a business with reasonable practice and no records, which is the cheapest problem in this field to fix and the one an audit before the visit would have found.
Questions people ask about eho inspection
Is an EHO visit announced?
Usually not. Inspection frequency is risk based, so a higher risk business is seen more often, and a business that has just been rated poorly can expect to be seen again.
What is an EHO rating?
The score from the inspection, converted into the food hygiene rating published for the premises. It reflects what was found on the day of the visit rather than the condition of the business now.
Can I ask for a re inspection?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a business can request a re inspection once the issues are fixed, usually for a fee and after a waiting period. The local authority sets the detail.