Free EHO inspection tool
Know where the gaps are before the EHO arrives.
Answer 12 quick questions and see how ready your food business is for an Environmental Health Officer inspection. It takes about two minutes, it is completely free, and there is no sign-up. The assessment runs in your browser and scores you across the three areas EHOs rate.
Answer all 12 questions to see your score.
How the readiness score works
Every food hygiene inspection in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is scored the same way. An EHO assesses three areas and gives each a score. Lower scores are better. Those areas are the backbone of this tool:
- Food hygiene & safety practices: temperature control, cross-contamination, allergens and personal hygiene.
- Structural condition of the premises: cleanliness, repair, handwashing, pest-proofing, drainage and ventilation.
- Confidence in management: your documented system, records, training and track record. This is the most heavily weighted area.
Why one weak area caps the whole result
Under the FHRS Brand Standard, your rating is set by both the total of the three scores and the highest single score. Whichever gives the lower rating wins. A rating of 5 requires no area to score above 5, so a major weakness cannot be offset by strength elsewhere.
We map your Yes / Partly / No answers to each area's FHRS score, then apply that total-plus-cap logic. The model is drawn from the Food Standards Agency's FHRS Brand Standard.
| Total score | No single area above | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0–15 | 5 | 5: very good |
| 20 | 10 | 4: good |
| 25–30 | 10 | 3: generally satisfactory |
| 35–40 | 15 | 2: improvement necessary |
| 45–50 | 20 | 1: major improvement necessary |
| Over 50 | Not applicable | 0: urgent improvement required |
This is a preparedness self-check, not an official prediction. Only an Environmental Health Officer can rate your business. Use your result to find and fix gaps, not as a guarantee.
Want more detail? Read the complete guide to EHO inspections, see how the rating is scored, or use the printable inspection prep checklist.
EHO readiness score FAQs
Common questions about the free EHO inspection readiness self-check.
Is the EHO readiness score really free?
Yes. It is completely free and there is no sign-up or email wall. The assessment runs entirely in your browser, nothing is stored or sent anywhere, and you get your result and gap list immediately.
How accurate is the score?
Treat it as a preparedness self-check, not an official rating. It mirrors the three areas an EHO scores and applies the same cap-by-worst-area rule the FHRS Brand Standard uses, but only an Environmental Health Officer can rate your business, and they assess far more detail than 12 questions capture.
What three areas does an EHO score?
Food hygiene and safety practices, the structural condition of your premises, and confidence in management. Confidence in management is the most heavily weighted area.
Why can one weak area cap my whole rating?
Your 0–5 rating is set by both the total of the three scores and the highest single score. Whichever gives the lower result applies. That prevents strength in one area from hiding a major weakness in another.
How long does it take?
About two minutes. There are 12 questions, with four for each scored area. Each is answered Yes, Partly or No.
Safe hands, clear records
Close the gaps before the EHO does
Forkto turns paper records into timestamped, inspection-ready evidence. This provides the Confidence in Management proof that keeps your rating up.