Quarter of caterers fail hygiene

Almost a quarter of caterers in Greater Manchester failed hygiene laws

Almost a quarter of catering premises in Greater Manchester are failing to meet basic food hygiene regulations, a BBC investigation has uncovered.

About 24% of the 13,000-plus cafes, restaurants, takeaways and hospital and school canteens operating in the county are not complying with hygiene laws.

The discovery follows inquiries made to the 10 councils in Greater Manchester under the Freedom of Information Act.

Breaches include rodent and cockroach infestations as well as dirty kitchens.

Baked cockroach

In one restaurant a cockroach nest was discovered after the ceiling was pulled down and in other incidents mice droppings were found in food, a cockroach was baked into a meal and used paintbrushes were left in a sink where food was prepared.

Caterers who break the law face court action if they fail to clean up their act and can be fined up to £20,000 - or even face six months in jail for more serious offences.

Steve Hoyle, an environmental health officer and chairman of Greater Manchester Food Liaison Group, which co-ordinates food safety polices across the county's 10 councils, said the findings did not surprise him.

"Because restaurants can open up without any prior approval or licensing, there will always be a percentage that don't comply.

It is very important that all food businesses obey the law and supply food that is safe to eat Food Standards Agency

"I've come across rat and cockoach infestations as well as kitchens that are just filthy.

"Rats can contaminate food quite seriously with just their general activity because of the nature of where they actually live down drains and sewers, they can bring all manner of harmful bacteria into a kitchen situation."

To help keep the public abreast of caterers' hygiene record, the Food Standards Agency is introducing a national scheme in association with local authorities, called Scores on the Doors, which enables people to find out how premises have scored in hygiene inspections.

As well as checking out their ratings via the internet, the results are also posted in the establishment's window.

A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency said: "It is very important that all food businesses obey the law and supply food that is safe to eat.

"The Agency is planning to introduce a national scheme so that consumers across the UK can obtain information on businesses in their areas."