Takeaways in poorer parts of England are more likely to fall below hygiene ... trends now
Cockroaches, mould and dead mice were all pictured inside some of the worst UK eateries by health officials last year.
Atrocious conditions and low food hygiene ratings have been attributed to a backlog of inspections due to Covid, employers struggling to recruit workers after Brexit and the cost of living crisis.
New data shows that takeaways in poorer parts of England are more likely to fall below hygiene standards, according to data from the Food Standards Agency
One in 16 takeaways across the UK fell below legally required standards at the beginning of December, The Guardian reported.
Food hygiene ratings are scored out of five, a business must score of three or higher to comply satisfactorily with food hygiene standards.
Some of the areas with the highest proportion of takeaways with a rating between zero and two include the Scottish Borders (32.5 per cent), Halton (20.6 per cent), Aberdeen City (19.9 per cent) and Enfield (18.4 per cent).
In some areas of the UK 20 per cent of the takeaways fail to meet food hygiene standards , a report suggests (pictured: a huge cockroach infestation at an Enfield takeaway)
Poorer parts of England were significantly more likely to have takeaways with failing food hygiene scores (Flies and mice droppings were found at an Indian restaurant in Hull)
Food hygiene ratings are scored out of five, a business must score of three or higher to comply satisfactorily with food hygiene standards (A Staffordshire pub was fined after food hygiene inspectors found a raft of mouldy food and unrefrigerated meat)
Analysis showed richer neighbourhoods in England had just one in 24 takeaways with poor food hygiene standards - compared to one in 10 in poorer neighbourhoods.
Nearly 16,700 food providers across the UK require improvements to their food hygiene, including almost 4,000 takeaways, 4,500 restaurants and 1,200 pubs.
Tottenham: Costa customer films 'revolting' flies and ants crawling over treatsIn Tottenham a 'shocked' Costa customer saw what he claims was 'revolting' ants and flies crawling over their festive treats - only for staff to allegedly tell him the infestation 'doesn't bother' other customers.
Daniel Renak, 34, had been craving something sweet after his lunch when he ventured into Costa Coffee on Fore Street in Tottenham last month.
But Mr Renak, an operations manager from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was 'quickly put off' after claiming to spot some of the chain's festive range 'crawling with ants'.
The concerned customer flagged the issue to a member of staff but says he was told 'it doesn't bother some of our customers' and that the manager was already 'aware'.
After suggesting the staff remove the food, he claims the baristas had 'no intention' of throwing it away and it remained on display for 25-30 minutes afterwards.
Ant attack: A customer claimed they saw ants and flies crawling over the festive treats in the Costa Coffee on Fore Street in Tottenham
In 2022 in Staffordshire, a former pub boss was fined more than £3,000 after hygiene inspectors found mouldy food and unrefrigerated meat stored next to tools and paint.
When inspectors visited the George and Dragon in Alrewas, Staffordshire they found 'extensive' mould growing on meat pies and fisherman's pie stored unrefrigerated on the floor of a dirty storeroom.
Richard Maley, 50, from Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, was the director of the company running the pub and restaurant when the offences occurred in 2016.
He was fined £1,280 and ordered to pay £1,800 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
Maley is no longer associated with the restaurant which now has a five-star hygiene rating. He had been due to attend North Staffordshire Justice Centre in 2017 but failed to turn up
In a Staffordshire pub, two uncovered homemade cooked meat pies were found, as were a tub of uncovered cooked chicken, ham-and-leek filling, a covered jug of gravy and a covered jug of diced sausage and bacon stored unrefrigerated next to a box of DIY waste on dirty stairs
Maley had been due to attend North Staffordshire Justice Centre in 2017, but failed to turn up
Stomach-churning pictures show inside a filthy Chinese takeaway that health inspectors shut down for the second time in four years.
