Golf club's 'poor hygiene' rating

Up to 67 outlets licensed to sell food in Oxfordshire have been given a poor food hygiene rating.

Two school catering firms scored one point or "poor" and a golf club in Oxfordshire scored no points in the Food Standards Agency ranking scheme.

A spokesman for the Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame said the report "was not good" but immediate remedial action had been taken to improve kitchen hygiene.

Oxfordshire's ratings were published on a national website on Tuesday.

Traders were assessed on their food preparation, hygiene knowledge and the state of their premises, then ranked on the Scores on the Doors website.

The Scores on the Doors five star rating scheme is supported by district councils and designed to reflect food hygiene standards in premises that sell food.

'High standard'

The Food Standards Agency said firms given the worst ratings would be notified of changes they could make.

The caterers for New Marston Primary School in Headington, Oxford and King Alfred's in Wantage both scored one point, or very poor.

Council services manager Colin Garnham-Edge said its Food With Thought service had provided school meals to a "high standard" throughout the county and was not aware of any reason why the two schools had scored so badly.

He said Food With Thought had also been awarded five stars under the scheme and he would investigate the discrepancy.

The Oxfordshire Golf Club was awarded no points under the scheme.

Deputy general manager Rob Phillips said "the report was not good" but new guidelines had been introduced for the cleaning and managing the kitchens, new managers had been brought in and staff had received hygiene training.

The rating scheme is supported by Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.