Ealing is second worst for poor food hygiene standards nationwide!
Liberal Democrats are disappointed that Ealing is in the top 3 nationwide.
Ealing comes second in top ten of nationwide councils with poor hygiene ratings. It is one of the worst performing boroughs coming second only to Newham! Local food businesses are scored by inspectors, with 12% found wanting. (See Annex A for data table).
Hygiene ratings1 of the three lowest score 0 to 2 were collated by borough nationwide based on Food Standards Agency (FSA) data. FSA has six ratings from 0 through to 5 inclusive. With ratings zero to two showing that “urgent improvement is required” through to “some improvements is necessary”.
It remains unclear as to whether this is because Council staff are overstretched due to cuts to the enforcement team or the Council's activity is weak at communicating the requirements to food retailers.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition said: “Ealing Liberal Democrats are concerned that Ealing ranks in the top three for poor food hygiene standards. This is an unacceptable risk to public health for residents who are likely to suffer increased exposure to various food-based hazards, such as bacterial contamination like E.coli. This is not good news for the ailing high street and needs to be taken seriously both as a public health and an economic issue.”
Notes
001 The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is designed to help consumers make informed choices and encourage businesses to maintain high standards. Ratings are publicly available and displayed on premises and online. Any business scoring two or below is expected to make significant improvements, and those rated zero may face closure if they fail to comply.
002 Ealing Food Hygiene Ratings
- 5 - Hygiene standards are very good
- 4 - Hygiene standards are good
- 3 - Hygiene standards are generally satisfactory
- 2 - Some improvement is necessary
- 1 - Major improvement is necessary
- 0 - Urgent improvement is required
Annex A: The Nation's Worst Rated Local Authorities for Food Hygiene
Rank | Local Authority | Rated 0-2 | Rated 0 | Rated 1 | Rated 2 | Average Rating | Rated Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Newham | 13.5% | 31 | 191 | 95 | 3.97 | 2,344 |
2 | Ealing | 11.6% | 34 | 119 | 190 | 4.19 | 2,949 |
3 | Waltham Forest | 11.4% | 60 | 126 | 30 | 4 | 1,902 |
4 | Enfield | 9.1% | 11 | 98 | 88 | 4.23 | 2,160 |
5 | Birmingham | 9.1% | 96 | 361 | 306 | 4.32 | 8,372 |
6 | Bolton | 8.9% | 9 | 103 | 75 | 4.19 | 2,103 |
7 | Camden | 7.8% | 36 | 98 | 128 | 4.24 | 3,340 |
8 | Wigan | 7.5% | 6 | 58 | 106 | 4.21 | 2,271 |
9 | Barking and Dagenham | 6.6% | 4 | 51 | 25 | 4.23 | 1,209 |
10 | Walsall | 6.5% | 9 | 59 | 43 | 4.25 | 1,712 |
11 | Barnet | 5.5% | 3 | 45 | 81 | 4.34 | 2,358 |
12 | Blaenau Gwent | 5.4% | 1 | 16 | 14 | 4.21 | 576 |
13 | Slough | 5.3% | 0 | 19 | 27 | 4.34 | 865 |
14 | Merthyr Tydfill | 3.0% | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4.31 | 529 |