1,209 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 82.3% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in Swale are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. 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.
Swale currently has 1,209 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,178 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 82.3% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. There are currently 18 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require 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.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blondies | ME10 2QB | 0 | Nov 26, 2025 |
| East Charcoal Grill | ME10 4BQ | 0 | Aug 04, 2025 |
| 0,10,20Halfway Petting Farm & Danley Marshes Ridin | ME12 8XX | 1 | Oct 28, 2025 |
| 4 Continents Stores Ltd | ME9 7NU | 1 | Jul 04, 2025 |
| A2 Food Store | ME10 4SG | 1 | Feb 04, 2026 |
| AHIA Foods | ME10 4PD | 1 | Feb 10, 2026 |
| B And M Retail Ltd | ME11 5AR | 1 | Jan 30, 2025 |
| Costcutter Minster | ME12 3LR | 1 | Oct 15, 2025 |
| Fins And Scales | ME13 7BS | 1 | Nov 27, 2024 |
| Jungle Jimmies | ME12 4QB | 1 | Oct 23, 2024 |
| Last Stop Store | ME13 8PE | 1 | Jun 03, 2025 |
| North Downs Real Food Company Ltd | ME13 8GE | 1 | Oct 30, 2025 |
| Red Snack Shack | ME10 4PB | 1 | Jul 28, 2025 |
| Sandhu Fresh Fry | ME12 1DS | 1 | Nov 24, 2025 |
| Sittingbourne Services Ltd | ME10 1YX | 1 | Nov 14, 2024 |
There are currently 970 food businesses in Swale with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 82.3% 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 Swale 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.