Rotherham's food hygiene standards: a taste of excellence with majority earning top marks

Inspectors have been checking conditions in well over 100 restaurants, takeaways, cafes, confectioners, hotels, businesses and public institutions, this year alone.

The vast majority have been rubber-stamped as a credit to their owners and workforce.

The official gradings start at five for “very good” - and go down to zero where “urgent improvement” is needed.

Thankfully, there appears to have been no zero marks handed out in Rotherham, however, there were a few providers who were ordered to make rapid changes to working practices including handling of food, preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

At some places, Inspectors said proof was needed that the food on offer was “safe to eat” and required evidence that staff had been informed and educated.

The top accolade of five went to a huge swathe of different outlets across the borough.

These are too numerous to list, but include diverse food providers and partners based at the likes of Rotherham United Football Club, Rotherham Rugby Club, East Dene Primary School, St Margaret’s Church, Church Street, Swinton, Alexandra Care Home, Doncaster Road, Thrybergh, Fat Tony’s sandwich bar, Masbrough Street, Rotherham town centre and Blue Bell Inn, Manvers Way, Wath-Upon-Dearne.

Muglet Lane in Maltby alone has been favoured with three top marks, with Jim’s Cafe, Kells Kitchen and Riverside Catering RMBC being rewarded.

Laughton Road in Dinnington seems an eclectic place to eat.

This year’s 5 figure went to the Aroma Coffee Shop, Dinnington Methodist Church Lunch Club, Halls Farm Shop, The Fishnet, Venus Restaurant, Dinnington Resource Centre.

While 3 figures (rated generally satisfactory) on the same stretch went to Deeelicious, Moon Ice Ltd and Pizza Club.

Establishments in the fourth tier (regarded as “good”) include S&K2 Cafe Rotherham Road Maltby, Abby’s, High Street, Rotherham, Eastern European Delicatessen, Wellgate, Rotherham, Pak Hoo House, Westgate Rotherham and Square Pizza, Fitzwilliam Road, Rotherham.

One takeaway shop, situated near the town centre, which was ordered to close temporarily over a rat infestation last year, was awarded a four rating this May.

Their improvements followed a stinging rebuke from Cllr Dominic Beck, who said: “Food business operators have a legal duty to comply with the required hygiene standards. We do not tolerate those who flout the law. Where public health is at risk, council environmental health officers will always take the necessary enforcement action to protect people.”

Those in the generally satisfactory third category include Booze Plus, Middle Lane Rotherham, Central Snooker, High Street, Rotherham, Eastwoods of Rotherham Ltd, Centenary Market Hall Rotherham, and Pronto Fast Food, Wellgate, Rotherham.

Places that required some level of improvement (tier 2) included Cooplands, Brinsworth Lane, Brinsworth, Majestic Pizzas, High Street, Wath-Upon-Dearne, and The Waverley, Brinsworth Road, Brinsworth.

There were only a handful of food providers whose standards were classified as in need of “major improvement” (tier 1.)

They include 4Safro-Caribbeanfoods Store & Unisex Saloon Ltd, of Wellgate, which was visited by experts in June, Eastwood House caring home, Doncaster Road, Rotherham (April) the Holiday Inn Rotherham-Sheffield, West Bawtry Road (June), Jumbo Takeaway, Potter Hill, Greasbrough (May), and Prospect House Farm Swinton Meadows Industrial estate (March.)

Last month, a survey of food hygiene ratings across Yorkshire ranked Rotherham as number five in the list, on a par with Barnsley with an average rating of 4.65 out of five.

SIMPLE STEPS TO FOOD SAFETY

* Cleaning - hands, surfaces, and equipment should be spotless before, during and after cooking;

* Cooking - food must be thoroughly prepared to kill harmful bacteria;

* Chilling - food must be stored at the correct temperature and steps taken to avoid cross-contamination.