Last updated: 3 April 2026
HygieneScout (hygienescout.co.uk) is operated by Jethro May trading as HygieneScout. We are an independent project and are not affiliated with the Food Standards Agency or any government body.
Analytics data (with your consent): If you accept analytics cookies, we use Google Analytics 4 (loaded via Google Tag Manager) and Microsoft Clarity to understand how people use HygieneScout. GA4 collects anonymised data about pages visited, time on site, device type, and approximate location (country/city level). Clarity records anonymised session replays, heatmaps, and click patterns to help us improve the user experience. Neither tool collects your name or email. Both only activate after you grant analytics consent via our cookie banner.
No user accounts: HygieneScout does not require user accounts. The only personal information we store is data you voluntarily provide when claiming a listing or subscribing to rating alerts.
Rating alerts:If you subscribe to be notified when an establishment's rating changes, we collect your email address. This is stored in our database and shared with Brevo (our transactional email provider) solely to send you alert emails. Legal basis: consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a)). Each alert email contains a one-click unsubscribe link that immediately deletes your subscription. You may also request deletion by contacting [email protected].
Listing claims:If you submit a “Claim your listing” request, we collect your name, email address, and role (owner or manager). This data is stored solely to verify business ownership and process your claim. We retain this data for the duration of the claim process and delete it within 12 months of resolution. Legal basis: consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a)). You may withdraw consent and request deletion of your claim data at any time by contacting [email protected].
Food hygiene data: All establishment data displayed on this site is public information published by the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. We do not collect personal data about restaurant owners beyond what the FSA publishes.
Cookie consent on HygieneScout is managed by Termly. When you first visit, Termly displays a consent banner. You can accept, reject, or manage your cookie preferences at any time.
We use the following cookie categories:
We do not use tracking pixels or pre-ticked consent boxes — consent requires an affirmative action, in accordance with UK ICO guidance. Advertising cookies (Google AdSense) are only set if you grant advertising consent via the Termly cookie banner.
Some pages on HygieneScout contain affiliate links to third-party training providers. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the running costs of the site.
Affiliate links are clearly marked with an external link icon and open in a new tab. We only recommend services that are relevant to food safety and hygiene. Our editorial content and ratings data are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
We currently partner with Virtual College (via Awin) for accredited food safety training courses, which appear on establishment pages with lower hygiene ratings.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to:
Since we do not collect personal information beyond anonymised analytics, there is typically no personal data to access or delete. If you have concerns, please contact us.
We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described above:
Some of our third-party service providers process data outside the United Kingdom. Where personal data is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:
We may update this policy as HygieneScout evolves. Significant changes will be noted by updating the date at the top of this page.
For privacy-related questions, email [email protected].