Analysis Finds Thousands of UK Food Businesses Are Awaiting FSA Hygiene Inspections

# What the data shows

An analysis by Virtual College of more than 600,000 public hygiene records held by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) finds thousands of food businesses currently listed as awaiting hygiene inspection. The review covers 14 types of food businesses and reveals sizable variation by sector.

Many inspected food manufacturers have top hygiene scores: among 7,705 inspected manufacturer and packer records that had a rating, 84.3% were rated 5. Low ratings (0–2, categorized as "Need Improvement" in the analysis) were uncommon for manufacturers — about 1.87% — and a tiny share had rating 0 (0.12%).

# Where inspections are most delayed

The analysis highlights higher proportions of waiting records in several categories:

• Food manufacturers and packers: 1,746 of 12,039 records (14.5%) listed as awaiting inspection.
• Food importers and exporters: highest proportion at 27.2% (245 of 900 records).
• Farmers and growers: 696 of 2,817 records (24.71%) awaiting inspection.
• Food distributors and transporters: 790 of 4,656 records (16.97%) awaiting inspection.

By raw numbers, the "Other catering premises" category has the largest single count waiting for inspection (11,238 records in the data set).

# How hygiene outcomes compare across sectors

• Food importers/exporters: 3.5% rated 0–2.
• Food distributors/transporters: 1.8% rated 0–2.
• Farmers and growers: 0.25% rated 0–2.

These figures indicate that, among businesses already inspected, most meet high hygiene standards, but the presence of many businesses still awaiting inspection leaves open questions about unassessed risk.

# Why inspections are delayed

FSA and Food Standards Scotland have previously identified two main causes of the backlog: inspection disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and longer-term declines in the food hygiene and standards workforce. The agencies reported a substantial number of overdue inspections in 2025, including a subset of high-risk businesses.

# What the FSA plans next

To address capacity and effectiveness issues, the FSA is developing a modernized, system-wide approach to food regulation called the "Future of Food Regulation" program. The program includes proposals that would change local authority delivery of official controls, increase national oversight for the country's largest food retailers, and affect the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. The FSA Board has moved the program into a detailed design phase and expects further developed proposals and later public consultation.

# Practical implications for businesses and consumers

• Consumers should be aware that many businesses have not yet been reassessed since pandemic-related disruptions, even though inspected manufacturers mostly hold high ratings.

# Bottom line

Available public records show a measurable inspection backlog across multiple food business types, while inspection results for manufacturers who have been assessed are largely positive. The FSA is pursuing structural reforms aimed at addressing workforce and backlog challenges and changing how oversight is delivered for larger businesses and the hygiene rating system.