696 food businesses in the source snapshot. Average rating: 4.8 out of 5. 83.1% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in Harlow are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Inspections are carried out by trained environmental health officers; not every registered business has a published rating. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
The source snapshot contains 696 registered food businesses for Harlow. Of these, 623 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 83.1% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.8 out of 5. The snapshot contains 3 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.
If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.
Retrieval is not an inspection date. Ratings may change; verify individual businesses with the official authority. Missing or conflicting results are not counted as a pass.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlow International Youth Hostel | CM20 2QD | 1 | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Mobile Sandwich Van - DV61 TXC | CM20 | 1 | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Riverway Cafe | CM20 2DR | 1 | May 14, 2026 |
| Rasyumm | CM20 1ES | 2 | Sep 23, 2026 |
The source snapshot contains 518 food businesses in Harlow with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 83.1% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.
A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.
Inspection frequency in Harlow depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.