Dorset is the cleanest place to eat out in Britain – its official!
A new hygiene map has revealed that the Dorchester (DT) postcode area has achieved the top food safety score for eating out.
Restaurants, hotels and takeaways across the area, which includes Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Blandford Forum, Beaminster, Sherborne and Sturminster Newton, achieved an average rating of 4.85 stars out of five.
This is according to data gathered by Claims Direct. They collected information from 450,000 food businesses across the UK. They found that the Dorchester postcode area was top, while parts of London scored the worst.
Tamsin Horsler, Dorset Council Food Safety Team Leader, said: “It is great news that Dorset food businesses are the cleanest in the country.
“We work closely with local business offering advice and guidance on food safety and training, as well as carrying out food safety inspections. We have already carried out hundreds of inspections this year. A total of 812 inspections have been done in the Dorchester postcode area since 1 January 2019. Generally standards in Dorset are very high, which is good news for everyone gearing up to enjoy a festive meal out.”
Dorset Council inspects food businesses that supply to customers and rates their hygiene standards. Inspectors usually work with businesses although they can also take enforcement action, such as serve hygiene improvement notices, request the premises close voluntarily or serve a prohibition notice. If necessary the council can also prosecute for food hygiene offences.
The rest of Dorset, the Bournemouth BH postcode area, also scored highly, achieving an average food safety score of 4.71 out of five. This was higher than the national average, which was 4.52.
You can find out the hygiene rating of any Dorset food business.
More information about the work Dorset Council does to improve food safety is available here.
