FOOD hygiene in parts of East Lancashire has been rated among the country’s worst.

Hyndburn was named the worst place in the UK for the number of food outlets failing to maintain hygiene requirements.

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Pendle was also in the poorest 10 per cent of areas with Rossendale a fraction outside.

Neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen was rated top in East Lancashire coming in the top half.

Town hall bosses said the shocking statistics showed the ‘seriousness’ inspectors use when making sure businesses were meeting hygiene standards. The survey by consumer standards organisation Which? found that just 35 per cent of Hyndburn’s businesses were meeting standards.

It analysed data submitted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) by 386 UK local authorities.

It ranked local authority areas, focusing on takeaways, restaurants and cafes and also hospitals, care homes and schools which provide food.

The survey found a huge variation in food hygiene standards across the UK, with one in five outlets failing to meet standards.

Birmingham was rated the second worst area for food hygiene after Hyndburn.

The study found the chance of buying a meal from a business that was not meeting hygiene standards was as high as one in three in 20 local authorities.

This figure rose to almost two in every three outlets in Hyndburn.

Bosses at Hyndburn Council said the figures reflected their ‘tough stance’ on inspections and said efforts were being made with food and catering businesses to improve compliance.

A spokesman said: “We take food hygiene very seriously and work hard to maintain and drive up standards.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of interventions carried out at food premises over the past 12 months, from April 16 to March 17, and the food team are carrying out re-visits to business which were non-compliant.

“The current levels of compliance are a reflection on both the number of inspections and the council’s tough stance on premises which fail to comply with Food Standards Agency guidelines.

“As well as keeping their kitchens clean and food safe, businesses must keep clear and up-to-date records of their food safety management practices.

“If they do not have satisfactory records we will rate them low, as required by the FSA guidelines, even if everything else is compliant.

“A number of food businesses have improved but are still within a three month standstill period or yet to request a re-rating visit.”

Erewash in Derbyshire topped the table with a 97 per cent compliance rate.

Pendle was ranked 22nd lowest out of 386 areas examined while Rossendale was 39th lowest.

Other areas in East Lancashire with a higher proportion of outlets meeting the requirement were Blackburn with Darwen who were ranked 235th lowest, Burnley was 153rd and Ribble Valley 97th.

Pendle Council leader, Cllr Iqbal Mohammed, said: “In Pendle our food premises inspectors take a zero tolerance approach to hygiene standards.

“We have a no-nonsense attitude and are determined to drive up standards.

“We work in partnership with all the businesses involved but although we are the inspecting body the responsibility lies with the food business.”

Cllr Phil Riley, an executive member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “It shows the hard work of our inspecting team and the partnership with food business owners and workers is paying off.”

A review by the FSA into the food enforcement system is looking at options such as tighter checks when a food business opens and how data from businesses can be used more effectively.

But Which? said it was concerned that proposed reforms could see a potential shift towards more inspections being carried out by third parties employed by businesses in place of checks by public authorities.

The FSA and councils rate food businesses from 0, which means urgent improvement is necessary, to 5, which is very good.

Outlets are not required by law to display these ratings, which could keep customers unaware of potential risks.

Alex Neill, from Which?, said: “People expect their food to be safe, but there is clearly still work to be done.”