London eateries have the lowest average food hygiene rating compared to other regions in the UK, according to a study, with Waltham Forest the worst borough.
The average food hygiene rating across the capital was 4.38, when a score was taken from all 36,383 food —premises operating in the capital, a report from online training provider High Speed Training found.
Just over one in five (22.1%) of takeaways and sandwich shops in London had a hygiene rating of three or below, while 923 premises had a score of rating of One or Zero.
The report, which marked 15 years since the introduction of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, found that Kensington and Chelsea had the highest average rating of London’s boroughs.
The average score from Kensington and Chelsea was 4.79 from over 1,000 premises, placing it joint seventh in the national ranking for towns and cities.
Meanwhile, Kingston Upon Thames and Barking and Dagenham both saw their ratings improve by an average of 0.16 compared to last year.
But, Newham saw its ratings drop by 0.15, with the average hygiene rating for the borough sitting at 4.02.
The report added that if London boroughs were counted as separate towns, several would be near the bottom of the national rankings, including Ealing (3.93) and Waltham Forest (3.89), which had the lowest average rating in London.
High Speed Training’s report also found that 83.1% of premises held a hygiene rating of Four or Five. Over 93% of Hotels, B&Bs and guest houses, and 83.6% of restaurants and cafes scored a Four or Five in the capital.
A Ghanaian takeaway in Croydon was forced to shut down in May after food hygiene inspectors uncovered a “significant infestation” of cockroaches and ‘strong smell of urine’ in the restaurant.
The former operator of a Notting Hill celebrity restaurant, Beach Blanket Babylon, was also fined more than £30,000 after a series of inspections uncovered infestations of cockroaches, mice, and rats.
Last month, A Budgens next to Paddington station was given the lowest food hygiene rating available after inspectors found mouse droppings on shelves.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme was launched across the country in 2010 and aims to provide hygiene information clearly and more effectively.
Ratings are determined by the standard of food handling hygiene, the physical condition of the premises and facilities, and food safety management practices.
Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, said: “Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses, and to the customers who use them.
“Fifteen years have passed since the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, and its place in the industry is as vital as ever.
“These ratings are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates, and we urge businesses and customers to take them seriously.
“For businesses that perform well, a high rating is a real selling point. However, establishments with a low hygiene rating can be extremely off-putting for customers, which ultimately have a significant impact on reputation and profitability.”
