Revellers are being reminded to check the food safety standards of restaurants before heading out to eat this festive period.

The vast majority of restaurants in the borough offer a safe, enjoyable dining experience. 88% of food businesses in the borough are operating safely with a food hygiene rating score of 3 or above.

But, to tackle the small minority of non-compliant food businesses, Ealing Council’s food safety team has completed more than 2,000 food safety inspections this year, to ensure restaurants, cafes, and takeaways are operating in line with legal standards. Just 35 of those inspections have resulted in closures after the council served the businesses with Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices, which forced them to shut while urgent improvements were made.

Naughty or nice?

All food businesses are given a food hygiene rating score. The scoring scheme aims to help people choose where to eat out or shop for food by giving clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards. 

Businesses are rated from 0 to 5:

• 5 – hygiene standards are very good
• 4 – hygiene standards are good
• 3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory
• 2 – some improvement is necessary
• 1 – major improvement is necessary
• 0 – urgent improvement is required

The food safety team is cracking down on businesses that mislead customers by displaying an incorrect or outdated food hygiene rating in their shop windows, which they could be prosecuted for. It’s always best to verify a food hygiene rating score online before you make a visit or order your takeaway.

Non-compliant food businesses are given support from dedicated council advisors to help them improve their standards and ensure residents can eat there worry free. Local businesses who make huge improvements to their ratings are recognised through the council’s High Five award scheme.

‘Keeping residents safe’

Earlier this week, Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, joined the food safety team’s inspections in Ealing Broadway where local cafe, Beehive received a 5 star food hygiene rating. Councillor Nagpal learned about how inspections are carried out and how the team supports businesses in the borough.

She said: “It was great to see our food safety team in action, setting high standards to ensure that your favourite local eateries are being run safely. They work hard to tackle non-compliant businesses and help them get on the right path. Their work keeps residents safe all year round, but we encourage everyone to do their bit by checking in advance before deciding where to eat.”

Find out more

If you’re thinking about booking your Christmas meal, you can search online for a business’s food hygiene rating score.

If you are concerned about food hygiene in a restaurant, cafe, or other food establishment within the borough, email foodsafety@ealing.gov.uk to let us know.