A staggering 12 establishments have received Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings of one or zero by Tameside Council in the past two months.
The businesses, including four in Hyde and three in Ashton-under-Lyne, were rated on the structure of the premises, hygiene practices and confidence in management.
Cheshire Ring in Hyde and the Seahorse, in Stockport, both scored zero.
Yummy Yummy, Moza and Pizza Bravo in Hyde, Mans Wok and Mossley Pizza in Mossley, Perfect Pizza, Al Bilal and Indo Chef in Ashton-under-Lyne, Kismet in Dukinfield and Raja Kebab House in Droylsden all scored one.
Involved in the inspections was Khush Ahmed, Environmental Services Manager for Tameside Council.
Mr Ahmed said: “The businesses will be revisited to make sure that they’ve done the immediate work required, so as not to put any consumers at risk.
“We don’t want to get to the situation where there’s an imminent risk, or where customers are being put at risk.”
The council has the power to serve hygiene improvement notices or exercise procedures to close down businesses, but these measures have not yet been taken.
“Zero-rated businesses are looked at continually,” said Mr Ahmed.
“They might genuinely not be aware of what the requirements are, so it’s an educational process.”
Reinspections will be taking place in the next few months, with the intention to not have businesses in the lower end of the ratings for any length of time.
All 12 businesses declined to comment or were unavailable for comment.
Image courtesy of Secret Pilgrim, with thanks.
