Birmingham and Hyndburn ranked worst for food hygiene

Birmingham and Hyndburn have been ranked the worst areas in the UK for food hygiene standards.

This is according to analysis by Which? using data from the 2016/17 Local Authority Monitoring System (LAEMS), collected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

43% of Birmingham's high and medium-risk food businesses didn't meet food compliance standards; while the Lancashire borough of Hyndburn was the second worst area in the UK for food hygiene, with just two in five of its medium and high-risk food businesses meeting food hygiene standards.

Birmingham has since closed more premises than any other English local authority; while Hyndburn said 92.5% of its food businesses are now compliant.

Coming out at the top of the table for food hygiene for a second year was Erewash Borough Council in East Derbyshire. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in Hampshire came in a close second.

Complaints about food hygiene and quality in 2016/17 were also up 23.5% on the previous year.

The lowest 10 ranked local authorities were:
1. Birmingham
2. Hyndburn, Lancashire
3. Camden, London
4. Croydon, London
5. Isles of Scilly
6. Falkirk
7. Glasgow
8. Edinburgh
9. Lewisham, London
10. Waltham Forest, London

The top 10 ranked local authorities were:
1. Erewash, East Derbyshire
2. Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire
3. Sunderland
4. North Dorset
5. South Kesteven, Lincolnshire
6. Brentwood, Essex
7. West Dorset
8. Staffordshire and Moorlands
9. Conwy
10. Orkney Islands

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