We are proud to hold a 5-star food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency — the highest possible score for a UK food business. But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter when you are buying handmade chocolate online?
What is a Food Hygiene Rating?
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local councils. Every food business in the UK — from restaurants to home kitchens — is eligible for an inspection. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good).
Inspections are carried out unannounced by qualified Environmental Health Officers. They assess three things:
- How food is handled, prepared and stored
- The physical condition of the kitchen and facilities
- The food safety management systems and documentation in place
What Does 5 Stars Mean for Hai Chocolate?
A 5-star rating means we met the highest standards across all three areas during our inspection. Our kitchen passed with flying colours — which reflects the care and discipline we put into every aspect of how we operate.
For you as a customer, it means:
- Your chocolate is made in a clean, well-managed kitchen
- We follow documented food safety procedures on every batch
- We handle ingredients responsibly and safely
- We are accountable to an independent regulatory body
Why This Matters for Handmade Food Businesses
When you buy handmade food online, you are placing a degree of trust in the producer. Unlike a supermarket product with a large brand behind it, a small-batch maker is asking you to trust their kitchen, their process and their standards.
Our 5-star rating is our way of showing that trust is well placed. It is not a badge we awarded ourselves — it was earned through an independent assessment by people whose job it is to hold food businesses to account.
Verify Our Rating
You can check our food hygiene rating independently at the official Food Standards Agency website: ratings.food.gov.uk. Search for Hai Chocolate in Oxford.
Have a question about our ingredients or allergens? Visit our Food Safety & Quality page or get in touch directly.