Wigan has the lowest number of top-rated takeaways in Greater Manchester with Bury enjoying the top spot, figures from the Food Standards have revealed.
Out of 284 takeaways and sandwich shops in Wigan, only 6% of them have been awarded the top rating of five from the Food Standards Agency.
Wigan Council assistant director of regulation services, Alan Blundell, said that they focus resources on improving hygiene standards in non-compliant businesses across all business types.
Yet with a staggering 46% of its 261 takeaways boasting the top hygiene rating, Bury has more takeaways rated five than any other borough in Greater Manchester.
Councilor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, said: “Bury has a dedicated team of officers inspecting food premises who work closely with the food business operators to improve standards.
“These findings are good news for residents and visitors to Bury, who can be confident that they are enjoying top quality fare when they dine out in Bury.”
The owner of Taylors Fish Bar in Bury, one of 105 takeaways in Bury with top marks, said: “We keep our five rating by working hard, keeping on top of things and having strict cleaning rotas.
“There’s nothing worse than going somewhere for food and finding that it’s not clean.”
Food Standards Agency, the regulating body for establishments offering food in England, inspects a growing number of takeaways and sandwich shops each year.
Food safety officers rate each business based on how hygienically the food is handled, the condition of the building and what the business does to insure food is safe.
Post inspection outlets are awarded a rating ranging anywhere between a not-so-sanitary zero and a spotless five, and owners are offered advice on how to do better next time.
Thomas Eleftheriou, owner of The Chippy in Standish, one of only 17 takeaways in Wigan with the top rating, said: “I’m surprised at the figures about the other takeaways in the town.
“We have been rated five for four years in a row now, maybe not many other people in Wigan take as much pride in their work as I do; maybe that’s the reason for the lack of top ratings.”
Picture courtesy of JIP via Flickr, with thanks.
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