VIDEO: Low hygiene ratings for Salford takeaways

OVER 15 takeaways in Salford need major improvements after scoring poorly in recent food hygiene inspections.

Environmental Health Officers have given 68 takeaways a low or zero rating since January 2011, with over 15 issued in recent months.

Salford City Council signed up to the national food hygiene rating scheme last year. A scheme designed by the Food Standards Agency to give consumers a guide to how compliant food premises are with food hygiene law. 

However, takeaways are just one part of a persisting problem in Salford. Council statistics published in April reveal that 327 out of a total of 1,973 food premises were not compliant with hygiene standards.

John Snow, Principle Environmental Health Officer, said: “The vast majority who fail our rating, in other words a rating of two, one or zero is generally down to lack of food safety management systems, lack of training, lack of basic hygiene and to be honest the vast majority is very straight forward and common sense to do.”

Nico’s on Chorley Road in Swinton said he scored a rating of 1 due to a broken fridge, and that environmental health officers plan to re-inspect next month.

Elsewhere, Louis’s on Monton Road in Eccles scored five stars. Business Owner, Vikki Bradbury, said: “It’s all about attention to detail really.”

She added that some takeaways might be scoring low due to the lengthy paperwork involved, which may be overlooked by takeaway owners.

Domino’s Pizza in Eccles was also delighted to have recently secured a five star status.

Mike Groves, franchisee of Domino’s Eccles said: “From the day we opened in October 2007, we’ve always taken our hygiene and operational standards very seriously.

"People not only want piping hot pizza delivered to their door but they also want to know it’s been prepared in a clean and hygienic environment.”

Food businesses in England are currently not required to display their scores on doors, but their ratings can be found online at http://ratings.food.gov.uk.

By Zarrion Walker