Some of the Suffolk businesses recently handed a low food hygiene rating, with traders near Sudbury, in Stowmarket and near Bury St Edmunds
When choosing somewhere to eat, you probably want to know if you are in safe hands when it comes to hygiene.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with local authorities to enforce food safety rules and award star ratings to businesses, giving residents an indication of the cleanliness and hygiene.
Here's a list of some of the Suffolk businesses handed low food hygiene ratings after recent inspections.
Badwell Ash Post Office
Our first entry takes us to this village near Bury St Edmunds.
Badwell Ash’s Post Office, in The Street, was handed a one-star food hygiene rating in February.
In its report the FSA said improvements were necessary when it came to hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building.
However, major improvements were needed regarding management of food safety.
Nabab Tandoori, Stowmarket
Over to Stowmarket now, where we find this Indian takeaway.
The FSA highlighted key areas of improvement for Nabab Tandoori Ltd, in Station Road West, when it visited in February.
There were concerns for hygienic food handling and the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, which both required improvements.
Major improvements were needed regarding the takeaway’s management of food safety.
However, customers don’t seem to agree, as the eatery maintains a 4.8-star rating on JustEat after 58 reviews, with happy diners praising the food, although they noted some issues with service, such as delays or missing items.
Pitta Gyro, Stowmarket
Not too far from our last entry, we find a recently opened Greek eatery in Station Road East, Stowmarket.
Pitta Gyro opened on February 23 – and a February 27 inspection handed it a one-star food hygiene rating.
Hygienic food handling was generally satisfactory, the FSA said, but improvements were necessary when it came to the cleanliness and condition of its facilities and the building.
However, major improvements were needed regarding management of food safety, the report said.
Co-op Food, Laxfield
This village store was handed a one-star food hygiene rating in February.
Hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building at Laxfield’s Co-Op Food were rated as generally satisfactory by the FSA.
However, management of food safety left much to be desired, scoring a major improvements needed rating.
Chips N Copstix, Long Melford
Over to Long Melford, where we find our next rating.
When the FSA visited Chips N Chopstix, in Hall Street, on March 6, it handed it a one-star food hygiene rating.
Inspectors found improvements were needed when it came to hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of its facilities and the building.
Management of food safety needed major improvements, the watchdog said.
Despite this, the chippy has a four-star rating on TripAdvisor after 44 reviews.
Some customers praised the quality of the food and the portion sizes, while one reviewer described it as a ‘true treat’.
Other visitors criticised the service and the food.
Pole-Deli Kajtus, Sudbury
Lastly, over to Sudbury, where we find our last entry, a convenience store.
Pole-Deli Kajtus, in Gaol Lane, was handed a one-star food hygiene rating by the FSA on April 29.
Improvements were needed regarding hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, while management of food safety required major improvements, according to the report.
The deli retains a 4.8-star rating on Google after 20 reviews.
One reviewer described it as the best Eastern European shop in Sudbury, while another praised the variety of items on offer.
Understanding the ratings
The hygienic food handling category includes the preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage of foods.
Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building relates to the restaurant itself, including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, to enable good food hygiene.
The management of food safety category relates to systems or checks in place, including paperwork, to ensure food sold or served is safe to eat, as well as evidence that staff know about food safety.
