HEALTH inspectors in Exeter have told three businesses that they must make urgent improvements to meet food safety requirements.
Zero ratings have been issued for the first time in the city as part of the Food Standards Agency hygiene rating system.
The owners of the Thai Shanghai restaurant on Cowley Bridge Road – which was recently severely affected by flooding – the Uni Snack Bar mobile food van on Prince of Wales Road and the Hometown Chinese takeaway in Fore Street have been told that significant changes are needed to bring them up to scratch following inspections in the past few months.
Details of why they failed to meet standards cannot be released by the city council for legal reasons. But a spokesman for the Thai Shanghai insisted its rating was affected by its recent issues with floods and steps have now been taken to address concerns.
Intervention reports are produced for businesses which received low scores in the Food Standards Agency hygiene rating system. A rating of one out of five means they require "major improvement" while a zero rating requires "urgent improvement".
As part of the "scores on the door" system, customers can get an at-a-glance view of how hygienic a restaurant is online while businesses are encouraged to display a sticker with their rating on a window or door.
A council spokesman said: "The main thrust of the scheme is to encourage businesses to improve their standards and keep the public informed.
"Businesses with low scores are told what they need to do to be compliant and they will be given an acceptable time to do that. If they still don't make improvements, we will then look at formal action."
A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said: "The rating given shows how well the business is doing overall but also takes account of the element or elements most in need of improving and also the level of risk to people's health that these issues pose.
"This is because some businesses will do well in some areas and less well in others but each of the three elements checked is essential for making sure that food hygiene standards meet requirements and the food served or sold to you is safe to eat.
"To get the top rating of five, businesses must do well in all three elements.
"Those with ratings of zero are very likely to be performing poorly in all three elements and are likely to have a history of serious problems. There may, for example, be a lack of sufficient cleaning and disinfection, and there may not be a good enough system of management in place to make sure the food is safe."
The Echo reported on the some of the businesses which had scored one out of five in the past 12 months in February.
Since then, 10 further businesses have been rated as one and three were given a zero mark.
The Thai Shanghai, based at the Cowley Bridge Inn in Cowley Bridge Road was given a one rating last May and a mark of zero this April. A spokesman said: "We were badly damaged by the floods in the winter. There was water all around us and rats got into the store room. Droppings were found.
"We took this very seriously and we have ripped the store-room apart and rebuilt it with concrete to make it safe from the possibility of future floods and to ensure animals cannot get in. The whole structure has been changed. But that's why we got the zero rating, I have to be honest. I don't think our customers believe we are a zero-rated establishment and, when we are reinspected, I'm certain our rating will improve."
The kitchen at the restaurant has also been refitted and the spokesman said he believes an inspection is due in the next few days.
The Uni Snack Bar, which is based outside the squash club building in Prince of Wales Road, was one of those rated zero. The Echo approached the business owner for comment but he declined.
The registered address for the Hometown Chinese takeaway, according to the Food Standards Agency, is 128-129 Fore Street. It received zero rating in February. The Chinatown takeaway is also registered at 129 Fore Street and this business has a one rating based on an inspection in February. No-one was available for comment.
The Highlands Care Home in St Leonard's Road is among those which received a one rating but staff say it is likely to receive a higher rating in the coming days.
Deputy manager Jason Aldred said: "The standard of food hygiene throughout is very high. The rating came because we had not filled in the required paperwork. Our supplier has now provided us with the correct paperwork and we have been re-inspected and found to be entirely compliant. We are certainly not dirty and we are just waiting for our new rating to come through."
Other businesses which have been given one ratings are Afriteo Enterprise at a private address in Exeter; Akwaba CB in Fore Street; Indo Grill in Pinhoe Road; the New Inn in Church Road; the Quay Climbing Centre Cafe in Haven Road, and Tang Shiang in South Street. Exeter Saracens Rugby Club in Summer Lane and the Exeter base of fraternal organisation Moose International in Spinning Path also received one out of five ratings.
East Devon District Council has also released details of restaurants and food businesses in and around Exmouth which have recently been rated one or zero.
One of those is the Saddler's Arms, which received two zero rating in the past 12 months with inspectors raising concerns about cleanliness, a "fly infestation" in a rear yard and the lack of a food safety management system which led to the then owners voluntarily choosing to cease serving food.
Robert Cullen is hoping to become the owner of the pub before the end of the month and says his aim is to "bury the recent bad memories" that people may have of the pub.
"It has had a rather chequered past in the recent few years," he told the Echo. "I know it has got a bad name and its reputation has suffered. I want to do all I can to repair the damage and I'm hoping to take charge and reopen before the end of May.
"I have been in touch with Environmental Health and I am working closely with them. I will be seeking an inspection as quickly as possible to secure a much higher rating. I want to reinvent the place."
These are the five businesses in Exmouth which were most recently given one or zero ratings according to East Devon District Council (all have been revisited and shown to have made improvements, but not fully re-inspected and given new ratings):
Ocean Garden Chinese take-away in Withycombe Village Road, zero rating.
Inspectors criticised its lack of a food safety management system and blockages in nearby drains due to a build-up of grease. The council has noted that some remedial work has been undertaken to address some of the issues but, as there had been no reinspection, it remains rated zero.
The Saddler's Arms, pub restaurant, Lympstone, zero rating.
The pub has been rated zero twice in the past year with the then owners choosing to voluntarily close the food side of the business until problems had been resolved. Inspectors note that the walk-in fridge, kitchen and wash-up rooms were in a dirty state with equipment and floors soiled and greasy. There was poor storage of food "and blood spillages", no soap at the wash-basin, no food safety management system, and an infestation of flies that was visible in the rear yard. The pub is now under new management who are hoping to reopen at the end of May and receive a new inspection.
Noble House, Chinese take-away, Stevenstone Road, Exmouth, one rating.
Inspectors looked at the kitchen and store and found that a freezer in the storeroom was "showing signs of disrepair, the seals on a chiller were dirty, and there was no up to date food safety management system. Inspectors noted that all recommendations had been followed following a revisit but the one rating remains in place.
Spoken, restaurant, The Strand, Exmouth, one rating
The owners were told to ensure that a food safety management system was kept up to date and told the kitchen needed to be thoroughly cleaned after food debris was found under the sink and in the main oven. it was revisited and works were found to be completed but the one rating remains.
Sue's Pantry, Rolle Street, Exmouth, one rating.
The kitchen, shop and toilets were inspected and it was found that greater attention needed to be given to the cleaning regime and the products that were being used. Ready to eat goods were being stored on shelving that was split and broken and a food safety management system was not up to date. A reinspection found that work had been undertaken to remedy the problems but the one rating remains in place until a reinspection.
