The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has established a broad top band for its new six-tier ’Scores on the Doors’ rating scheme.
The national scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland will provide consumers with information about hygiene standards in food businesses.
Sarah Appleby, FSA head of enforcement, said: "A broad top band represents a fairer scoring system for food businesses. It will mean that local authorities can concentrate their resources on helping the high-risk establishments at the lower end of the scale to improve their rating.
"A key objective of the scheme is to encourage businesses to improve hygiene standards and the decision we have announced today is consistent with that."