NI food venues top UK hygiene ratings

Hospitality venues in Lisburn and Castlereagh City have been revealed as the top performers in the UK when it comes to food hygiene.

New nationwide rankings show that every food business in the region has been awarded either four or five stars under the Food Standards Agency’s hygiene rating scheme – a remarkable feat unequalled in any other area across the UK.

Also appearing at number three in the top 10 best performing regions were venues in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area, where 98.4 food businesses are displaying four or five-star ratings. And at number 10, businesses in the Mid-Ulster area are also celebrating as 97.1 find themselves in the top bracket.

Ulster’s impressive hygiene ratings have been welcomed by a spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency in NI, who told LCN:

“All food businesses should be able to achieve a good food hygiene rating.  A higher rating is good for business and something that’s worth shouting about.  It shows customers that the business takes food hygiene seriously.”

Northern Ireland’s remarkable performance in the new rankings – compiled by the lovemyvoucher website – is in stark contrast to some districts, particularly across England. The worst performers are in the London borough of Newham, where a staggering 19 per cent of food businesses scored from zero to two in the FSA’s hygiene scheme.

Nine of the 10 worst performing council areas are in England and none of the bottom 10 districts are in Northern Ireland.

Since last year, it has become compulsory for food businesses such as cafes and restaurants to display the appropriate green star-rating sticker on a prominent place in their premises.

And a survey, also released this month by NFU Mutual, indicates that almost half of all customers questioned would refuse to dine in a venue that had scored fewer than three stars for hygiene.