Food hygiene in care homes: ratings, standards and what to check

Care home kitchens are inspected by the local council and given a Food Hygiene Rating from 0 to 5, where 5 is very good. A rating of 3 means generally satisfactory, but the rating only reflects food safety at the last inspection, not how good the meals are or whether residents eat well. CQC separately checks that homes meet residents’ nutrition and hydration needs.

At a glance

• Care homes are among the businesses rated under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good).
• Ratings reflect three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
• Displaying the rating is voluntary in England and a legal requirement in Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Regulation 14 requires suitable, nutritious food and fluids, help with eating and drinking where needed, and respect for cultural and religious needs.
• A good food hygiene rating says nothing about taste, choice or dignity at mealtimes, so check those in person.

What is the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and does it cover care homes?

Local councils inspect food businesses and give each a rating from 0 to 5. The scheme covers restaurants, cafes, takeaways and shops, and it also covers schools, hospitals and care homes. The rating shows how well the business met food safety standards at its most recent inspection.

The 0 to 5 scale is run by the Food Standards Agency for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own food hygiene scheme run through Food Standards Scotland, so check there and with the Care Inspectorate if you are looking at a Scottish home. See our guide to Care Inspectorate grades for the Scottish quality picture.

What do inspectors look at, and where can you find the rating?

Inspectors assess three elements:

• Food handling: how food is prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled and stored.
• Physical condition of the business: cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control and other facilities.
• Food safety management: the processes, training and systems used to keep food safe, and the inspector’s confidence that standards will be maintained.

If a kitchen scores poorly, officers can set deadlines for improvement. Where there is an imminent risk, they can stop part of the operation or close it.

The rating can be searched on the Food Standards Agency’s website, which GOV.UK’s food hygiene ratings page links to. Some homes also display a sticker, though in England they do not have to. When you find a rating, check the date of the inspection. A business that has appealed may also show a different result online and on a sticker until the appeal is settled.

A food hygiene rating is not a CQC rating. A home can have a strong CQC rating and an average kitchen score, or the reverse, so look at both. Our guide to CQC ratings explained and the walkthrough on reading a CQC inspection report help with the second part.

What does the law say about food and drink in a care home?

Several rules overlap. The food safety rules are enforced by the local council, while CQC regulates the quality and safety of care, including nutrition.

• Regulation 14, nutrition and hydration: where a service provides accommodation, it must meet residents’ nutritional and hydration needs. That means suitable, nutritious food and fluids enough to sustain life and good health, reasonable food and drink requirements arising from preferences or religious and cultural background, help with eating or drinking where necessary, and dietary supplements when a health professional prescribes them.
• Regulation 12, safe care and treatment: providers must assess and reduce risks to residents, which includes risks linked to swallowing difficulties or food allergies.
• Regulation 15, premises and equipment: kitchens and equipment must be clean, suitable and maintained.

Regulation 14 does not apply where meeting the need would not be in the person’s best interests, assessed under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for people aged 16 or over. Our guide to dehydration in elderly people explains why drinks matter as much as meals, and personal hygiene in care homes covers the wider hygiene rules.

Does Natasha’s Law apply, and what about allergies?

Natasha’s Law is the common name for the allergen labelling rules for food that is packed on site before it is ordered, known as PPDS. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, businesses that make PPDS food must label it with its name and a full ingredients list, with allergenic ingredients emphasised. The Food Standards Agency describes this as including food that customers pick from a display unit or that is kept behind a counter.

The rules are written with food businesses selling directly to customers in mind. A meal cooked and served to a resident as part of their care is a different situation, but the kitchen must still be able to give allergen information, as well as meeting Regulations 12 and 14. If a care home runs a shop or cafe selling packed food on site, it should check the Food Standards Agency’s PPDS guidance to see whether the labelling rules apply. The FSA tells businesses to use that guidance to decide.

Whatever the legal position, families of residents with allergies, swallowing problems or religious dietary rules should ask:

• How are allergies, intolerances and special diets recorded in the care plan?
• How does that information reach the kitchen and the person serving the meal?
• Who checks that the right food and the right texture go to the right person?
• How are halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan or other cultural diets provided and kept separate?

Our guide to equality and diversity in care homes covers cultural and faith needs more broadly.

What should you check at mealtimes?

A good rating on paper still needs checking in practice. If you can, visit during a meal. Our questions to ask when visiting a care home include more on food.

• Choice: is there a menu, and can residents change their mind or ask for something else?
• Presentation: do soft or pureed meals look appetising, and is each item served separately where possible?
• Help: are residents who need assistance with eating helped unhurriedly, and sat in a comfortable position?
• Drinks: are drinks within reach all day, and are people offered them regularly, not only at meals?
• Atmosphere: is the dining room calm, with a chance to eat with others if residents want it?
• Weight and appetite: does the home monitor weight and act on changes?
• Cleanliness: are tables, cutlery and crockery clean, and do staff wash their hands before serving or assisting with food?

Ask whether snacks, special diets or supplements cost extra. The answer is covered in our guide to whether care home fees are all inclusive.

What can you do if you are worried?

1. Ask to see the rating and the date. The home should be able to tell you its latest food hygiene result and any actions taken since.
2. Raise concerns with the manager. Be specific about what you saw, when and who was involved, and ask for a written reply.
3. Contact the council’s food safety team. Councils inspect food businesses and can take action on poor hygiene.
4. Complain formally if needed. Follow the steps in how to complain about a care home, and share concerns about nutrition or dignity with CQC.
5. Act quickly if residents are ill. Sickness affecting several residents may be an outbreak. See norovirus in care homes.

Frequently asked questions

Are care homes inspected for food hygiene?

Yes. Local councils inspect food businesses, including care homes, and give each a rating from 0 to 5. CQC separately checks nutrition and hydration as part of its regulation of care.

Is a food hygiene rating of 3 good enough for a care home?

A 3 means generally satisfactory, so food is not unsafe, but 4 or 5 is better. Ask what the inspector asked the home to improve and whether those actions are done, because residents may be more vulnerable to food-related illness.

Must a care home display its food hygiene rating?

In England, displaying the rating is voluntary, though businesses are encouraged to. In Wales and Northern Ireland it is a legal requirement, and businesses must also give the rating verbally if asked. You can look up any rating online.

Does Natasha’s Law apply to care home meals?

Natasha’s Law covers food prepacked for direct sale, such as items on a display or behind a counter. Meals served to residents are a different matter, but a home that sells packed food on site should check the Food Standards Agency guidance. Allergy safety is still a care duty.

Who checks that residents get enough to eat and drink?

CQC checks the home against Regulation 14, which requires suitable, nutritious food and fluids and help with eating and drinking where needed. Families can also review the care plan, weight records and fluid charts with the manager.

Where to get help next

Use our care home search to shortlist homes, then use the questions above on a visit. See how to choose a care home for the full process.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Food hygiene ratings
• Food Standards Agency: Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
• legislation.gov.uk: Regulation 14, meeting nutritional and hydration needs
• Food Standards Agency: Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food
• legislation.gov.uk: Regulation 12, safe care and treatment

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.