Categorization of Food Services
A food safety seal issued by the Health Surveillance Service to food services that care about consumer health.
What is Categorization?
It is a health inspection strategy that classifies food services based on risk.
What is the goal?
To improve the health profile of food businesses.
Who categorizes?
The Municipal Health Surveillance Service.
Who can be categorized?
Restaurants, bars, snack bars and similar businesses.
See how Categorization works
The municipal Health Surveillance Service inspects the establishment with a 51-item checklist. The items most likely to cause foodborne illness weigh more, and the total sets the letter.
Learn the full methodBenefits of Categorization
For city halls/Health Surveillance
Strengthens Health Surveillance and boosts food tourism.
For food services
Shows commitment to food safety; reduces the risk of foodborne outbreaks and trains staff.
For consumers
More confidence when choosing where to buy or eat food.
The lower the risk, the higher on the podium
In the inspection, each non-compliant item adds health risk points. The total becomes the letter. The seal is displayed at the business and is valid until the date set by the municipality.
Seal A: Excellent
0 to 2 risk points
Services that meet the requirements with excellence.
Seal B: Very good
3 to 68 risk points
Services that meet the requirements very well.
Seal C: Satisfactory
69 to 155 risk points
Services that meet the requirements satisfactorily.
Pending (156 or more): Unacceptable sanitary quality: the place gets no seal and health surveillance takes enforcement measures, which may include closing it down. A failure in drinking water, running water or sewage leads straight to Pending, whatever the total.
Quick access
Categoriza Brasil materials to read, print and share.
Get to know the inspection items
The seal is neither a customer review nor a self-assessment. It is the result of a health surveillance inspection, with a 51-item checklist focused on what affects your health the most.
See the 51 inspection items
Categoriza Brasil in numbers
- States
- 2
- Municipalities
- 10
- Grade A seals
- 131
- Grade B seals
- 19
- Grade C seals
- 7
Recently graded
See all on the map- Praya SucosRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Renata Caetano DoceriaRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Seu Clovis BurguerRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Hotel DubaiRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Havanna MacaéRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Restaurante Costa RavelloRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Café UrbanoCafé / Casa de Chá · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
- Restaurante Tiwan e PizzariaRestaurante · Macaé/RJMacaé/RJ
Data updated on
News
All news
Equipe Categoriza Brasil apresenta sistema ao Estado do Maranhão
Institucional · Sep 01, 2026
Implementação do sistema Categoriza Brasil é pauta no 7º Encontro do Ecossistema de Inovação de Gravataí
Inovação · Jul 23, 2026
Equipe Categoriza Brasil apresenta o sistema ao município de Cascavel-PR
Institucional · Jul 10, 2026
Gravataí-RS assina termo de adesão ao sistema Categoriza Brasil
Adesão · Jul 09, 2026
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Frequently asked questions
How can food services sign up to take part in Categoriza Brasil?
The municipality where the food service is located must have signed a membership agreement with Categoriza Brasil.
How can a municipality join Categoriza Brasil?
The health surveillance manager must contact the Categoriza Brasil team to sign the membership agreement and draft the municipal regulation.
What is the administrative cost for a food service to be graded?
It depends on the terms set out in the municipal regulation. Categorization is part of the health surveillance inspection activities.
How long can a food service keep its grade after the ABC seals are published?
Each municipal government is free to set the validity of the ABC seals in the municipal regulation. The suggested period is two years for the A seal, a year and a half for the B seal and one year for the C seal.
Will establishments graded as Pending be closed?
Establishments classified as Pending have unacceptable sanitary quality and therefore will not be graded. In these cases, health surveillance will take enforcement measures to keep consumers from being exposed to high health risks, which may include shutting down the establishment's activities.
What should I do to get a good grade?
All Good Handling Practices requirements matter for food safety. Since Categorization focuses on the items with the greatest impact on consumer health, make sure the water used in the establishment is potable and that the water tank is cleaned periodically.
Testimonials
Opinions about Categoriza Brasil
Consumer from Santa Maria/RS Every business should know about this topic, to understand how important it is to be graded.
Restaurant Owner Categorization helps improve the quality of service and brings in more customers.
Consumer from Santa Maria/RS Every business should know about this topic, to understand how important it is to be graded.
Restaurant Owner Categorization helps improve the quality of service and brings in more customers.
Consumer from Santa Maria/RS Every business should know about this topic, to understand how important it is to be graded.
Restaurant Owner Categorization helps improve the quality of service and brings in more customers.
Your municipality could be next.
The municipal government signs the membership agreement, publishes the regulation and health surveillance is trained to inspect with the method.