A HIGH number of eateries in the area have been told they have the worst food hygiene ratings in the district and have been told to shape up or possibly face being closed down or even prosecuted.

Government body the Food Standards Agency uses a chart score of zero to five to rate establishments that supply food for their hygiene levels and is administered by local authorities, with five being the highest.

In total, 17 outlets selling food to the public in the south of Stroud district received a score of one out of five for their hygiene standards.

In addition, Indian restaurant Dursley Tandoori, on Long Street, got the lowest score possible of zero out of five.

A spokesman for Stroud District Council, which administers the ratings to shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs, said while a zero food hygiene rating meant major improvements were required, it may not necessarily warrant closing a business down.

“There is a range of enforcement options open to food safety officers,” he said.

“It is intended as a guide to the public. Our environmental health team take food hygiene very seriously and if they have concerns about public safety they will force establishments to close.

“The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is about getting establishments to buck their own ideas up as the ratings are there for the public, their potential customers, to see.

The officer added it was in businesses’ interest to increase their food hygiene rating.

“Publicity such as this in The Gazette will have a positive effect as it will help raise the profile of the scheme and ultimately further help raise standards.”

Dursley Tandoori manager Harunul Shapon said the restaurant had made vast improvements since the inspection and, on revisiting, a Stroud District Council officer was "fully satisfied" with the conditions.

He added that, when the officer had visited in August, he spoke with a new member of staff who had not yet been trained and so was unable to show the paperwork for where and how long food was kept, which lowered their score.

"I welcome anybody to come for a visit to the restaurant and come and see the hygiene standards," he said.

The SDC spokesman added that Dursley Tandoori, which has been trading since 2001 had admitted the hygiene offences and had a good record prior to them.

"We have met with them several times to ensure that problems identified were quickly remedied and have taken formal action as a result of the contraventions identified," he said.

"We are aware that they have made improvements and, if the owner requests, we are happy to visit again in accordance with the scheme to reassess their food hygiene rating.”

In South Gloucestershire, a food outlet in Codrington was one of three establishments to been given a zero hygiene rating.

Ostlands Farm, on Wapley Road, was given the worst possible rating by South Gloucestershire Council following an inspection at the end of 2012.

The business, listed as a manufacturers and packers, was told to make urgent improvements to its hygiene procedures.

The other two are the Londis store in Patchway and the Rajastan Royal restaurant in Downend, which were both inspected last year.

In total, 2,075 establishments were inspected by the council in the district.

The information has been published on the Food Standards Agency website which customers can search for ratings of specific eateries throughout the country.

Businesses with a score one out of five in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Cam

  • Cam Traditional, Cam High Street
  • Cam Convenience Store, Cam High Street
  • Berkeley Arms, Cam High Street

Dursley

  • DFC Takeaway, Kingshill Road
  • Dursley Diner, Parsonage Street
  • Real Spice, Long Street
  • Old Bell Hotel, Long Street
  • Kings Head Inn, Parsonage Street
  • Summerhayes Stores, Tilsdown

Berkeley area

  • Balti Bengal Spice, Canonbury Street
  • Village Store, Newtown
  • The Old Post Office, Sharpness
  • Godfrey Cullimore and Son, Cambridge
  • KFC Michaelwood Services on M5

Wotton-under-Edge

  • Dinneywicks Inn, Kingswood
  • News Market, Pitman Place
  • Pizza Planet, Market Street

South Gloucestershire

  • Direct Distribution, Oatley Trading Centre in Kingswood
  • Muzzy's Kebabs, Bradley Stoke
  • Shadin, Staple Hill
  • The Masala Kitchen, Kingswood.