East Lothian Council is part of the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS), a national system rolling out across all of Scotland's 32 councils supported by the Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
Following routine food hygiene inspections by Environmental Health Officers, businesses will be awarded a FHIS Pass or Improvement Required certificate to display to customers. This information will also be published on the Food Standards Scotland website. The information for East Lothian food businesses is updated once a month.
The scheme is designed to encourage businesses to maintain high standards to achieve Pass certificate, while giving consumers' confidence when they go to buy food.
The scheme is mainly targeted at any food businesses supplying directly to members of the public, and will include cafes, restaurants, takeaways, supermarkets, butchers, bakers and delis. Other businesses involved in the food industry may be considered in the future. Pass or Improvement Certificates are only a reflection of the standards at the time of inspection, and the responsibility for ensuring food safety every day remains with the operator and the staff working in the business.
You should see the certificate displayed when you enter the premises. If you don't see a certificate ask the staff or owner why they are not displaying it.
In addition to the Food Hygiene Information Scheme there are another two food related award schemes available to food businesses.