Stockton among the best in the UK for food hygiene

Stockton has achieved a spotless record in a major new analysis by Cairn Catering Engineers, with not a single food business in the region rated two or below, putting it among the top performers nationally for cleanliness and safety.

The study used open data from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, covering over 485,000 premises across the UK.

The average national hygiene rating is 4.65 out of five, with 78 per cent of outlets awarded the top mark of five and 97 per cent rated at least three.

Elsewhere in Teesside and in County Durham, the picture is strong too.

Hartlepool has just 0.14 per cent of outlets scoring two or under, while Darlington’s figure of 1.68 per cent still compares well with many parts of the country.

Middlesbrough is the local exception, with almost 4 per cent of premises rated two or below, leaving it behind its neighbours but still broadly in line with national averages.

On a national scale, the North East as a whole ranks fourth out of 11 UK regions, ahead of Yorkshire, the North West and London, putting the region on the map for good hygiene standards.

The study also highlights which kinds of food businesses are most likely to fall short, with takeaways and sandwich shops performing worst, and schools, colleges and universities emerging as the strongest.

Researchers found a clear link between low hygiene scores and deprivation, with almost 6% of premises in the most deprived areas rated two or below, compared with less than 2% in the least deprived areas.

New and independent businesses also struggle to keep up with more established ones, but overall the analysis suggests that where a business is based has a strong influence on its chances of achieving a higher score.

If you are thinking of opening a new food business in the North East, Stockton could be a great place to set up shop.

Further information on the study can be found on Cairn’s website: UK Food Hygiene Ratings: How Every Area Scores | Cairn