Hygiene warnings were issued to thousands of food establishments in the North East last year.
New figures from the Food Standards Agency have revealed that 6,699 food businesses in our region received at least one written warning for potentially breaching hygiene standards in 2018/19.
Some 209 businesses also had more serious action taken against them, for example having food seized, being closed down, and even being taken to court.
As well as restaurants, takeaways and caterers, these businesses include producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of food in the North East.
The 6,699 businesses given a warning means that nearly one in every three food establishments in the region (30%) received one last year - a higher rate than the national average.
Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, at least 154,764 food-related businesses received a warning from local councils in the last year, or 27% of the total.
The figure rose to 42% of all food businesses in Gateshead.
A high rate of written warnings doesn’t necessarily mean that food hygiene in the area is more likely to be poor, however - it could be due to stricter enforcement of the Food Standards Agency’s guidelines.
As well as seeing written warnings, 209 establishments in the North East also had formal action taken against them.
Along with cautions, formal action can include voluntary closure of the business, seizure of food, and suspension or revocation of a licence.
In total, 92 establishments in the North East were served hygiene improvement notices during the last year.
A further 41 were closed voluntarily due to concerns over food hygiene, 36 had their food seized by the council, 13 were served a hygiene emergency prohibition notice and four were given a prohibition order - both of which can involve not being allowed to serve food or use certain equipment - and six were given a caution.
At least 17 establishments were actually taken to court - although the number does not include any prosecutions that were ongoing at the end of the year.
Details of the businesses involved are not available.
Written warnings for breaches of food hygiene 2018/19
Local authority // Total food establishments // Number that received a written warning // %
Gateshead // 1,629 // 687 // 42%
Durham // 4,421 // 1,576 // 36%
Northumberland // 3,597 // 1,224 // 34%
Stockton on Tees // 1,661 // 522 // 31%
Hartlepool // 823 // 256 // 31%
North Tyneside // 1,387 // 414 // 30%
Newcastle Upon Tyne // 2,485 // 731 // 29%
Redcar and Cleveland // 1,139 // 265 // 23%
Sunderland // 2,098 // 471 // 22%
Darlington // 985 // 188 // 19%
Middlesbrough // 1,226 // 206 // 17%
South Tyneside // 1,128 // 159 // 14%
England, Wales and NI // 568,310 // 154,764 // 27%
