Walsall has been ranked joint-worst in the country for food hygiene ratings, according to a new report. The Black Country town has an average cleanliness score of 4.03 out of 5, the same as Bolton, making it the lowest in the UK.
The ratings are issued by environmental health officers after inspections of restaurants, shops, takeaways and other establishments that serve food to the public. Businesses are scored from zero to five, with five meaning 'very good' and zero meaning 'urgent improvement necessary'.
West Midlands dominates bottom of the table
The report from High Speed Training shows that the West Midlands generally has issues with food hygiene. Of the six worst-performing areas in the country, four are in the region. Birmingham and West Bromwich are joint fourth-worst with an average rating of 4.16, followed by Dudley on 4.22.
At the other end of the scale, Shrewsbury and Telford both have an average rating of 4.74, making them the best in the wider Midlands.
Zero-star ratings can persist for months
Recent analysis by BirminghamLive revealed that dozens of food establishments in the region have zero-star ratings, and some can keep them for months or even years. Businesses are not required to display these ratings publicly, so it is always worth checking where you are getting your food from, particularly when ordering from delivery apps without having stepped foot inside the premises.
Scores for a particular town or city can be easily found online by searching for 'food hygiene ratings'.
