BURNLEY Council, together with the Food Standards Agency, is urging customers to look before they book and check the food-hygiene rating before deciding where to go on a special Valentine’s date.

Jayne Enright, the council’s principal environmental-health officer for food safety, said: “When planning your special meal out, make sure you check the hygiene ratings online and choose a restaurant that takes food hygiene seriously.

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“Go online to the Food Standard Agency’s website food.gov.uk/ratings — but food-hygiene ratings can also be found by looking in restaurants for the green-and-black sticker, or asking staff.

“Ratings are determined by local-authority food-safety officers and range from zero to five, with a five rating meaning very good food-hygiene standards.

“Some 92 per cent of food businesses are rated a three or higher so there are plenty of places with good food-hygiene standards.”