Environmental health officer inspections of food businesses across England rose by 22 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to data compiled from local authority returns and shared with The Mise — a clear signal that councils are accelerating their recovery from the inspection backlog created by the pandemic and its aftermath.
The rise in inspection activity reflects a combination of factors: additional central government funding directed toward local authority enforcement capacity in last autumn's Spending Review, a partial recovery in EHO staffing levels following years of attrition, and a concerted push by several metropolitan councils to clear overdue inspections ahead of the Food Standards Agency's scheduled review of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme later this year.
The data, which covers returns from 142 local authorities in England, shows that 74 per cent of food businesses that were due an inspection as of January 2026 have now received one — up from 61 per cent at the same point last year. However, significant variation persists between authorities: several rural and coastal councils continue to report coverage rates below 50 per cent, citing persistent difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified EHOs.
What operators are experiencing
Operators across the sector report a marked increase in unannounced inspection activity in recent weeks, particularly in urban areas where the backlog had been most severe. Several large casual dining groups have told The Mise that the volume of site visits in the first ten weeks of 2026 has already exceeded the total for the entirety of 2024.
"We welcome the increased activity," said the compliance director of one multi-site pub group, who asked not to be named. "We're proud of our standards and inspection gives us an independent benchmark. What we'd ask for is consistency — the interpretive variation between different EHOs on issues like allergen documentation and temperature recording remains a real challenge for any operator running multiple sites."
Enforcement action on the rise
Alongside the increase in routine inspections, the data shows a corresponding rise in formal enforcement action. Improvement notices issued to food businesses in the period rose 17 per cent year on year, and emergency prohibition orders — the most serious enforcement tool available to EHOs, requiring immediate closure — rose 9 per cent. Both figures are broadly consistent with what would be expected given the overall increase in inspection volumes.
The FSA said it welcomed the increased enforcement activity and encouraged operators to use the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme's voluntary re-inspection application process if they had made significant improvements since their most recent visit.
Advice for operators
Industry bodies including UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association have both issued reminders to members in recent weeks encouraging them to review their food safety management documentation, temperature records and allergen information ahead of what is expected to be a sustained period of heightened inspection activity throughout 2026.
Key areas EHOs are reportedly focusing on include:
- Allergen information accuracy, particularly for dishes that have changed since the last inspection
- Temperature monitoring records for high-risk chilled foods
- Staff hygiene training documentation and refresher evidence
- Pest control records and contractor visit logs
- Cleaning schedules, particularly in food preparation areas not routinely seen by customers