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Which Lincolnshire councils have biggest backlog in food hygiene inspection?




Consumers face an increased risk of food poisoning and other serious health issues because of a crisis in food safety, an investigation has found.

One in five restaurants and takeaways have not been inspected by food inspectors for more than two years.

Environmental health teams say a recruitment crisis and a backlog from the pandemic are behind the trend.

A chef working in a commercial kitchen wearing chefs whites and an apron. Photo: istock
A chef working in a commercial kitchen wearing chefs whites and an apron. Photo: istock

Unison’s head of local government Mike Short said: “Inspections are now so delayed that it’s perfectly possible for food businesses with shoddy hygiene practices to operate with little fear of ever being caught.

“This is a serious public health issue.”

As part of a study into food hygiene inspections, the BBC Shared Data Unit collected data from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on the ratings and status of every restaurant, cafe, canteen, pub, bar, nightclub, takeaway, sandwich shop and mobile caterer as of April 10. A second set of data was downloaded on April 25 focusing on wholesale outlets.

'Urgent improvement necessary' food hygiene rating
'Urgent improvement necessary' food hygiene rating

Guidelines state most food premises in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should be inspected between six months and two years depending on the level of risk.

Among the councils with the worst backlogs was East Lindsey District Council, which covers 1,118 eateries, many of which are in Lincolnshire’s tourist hotspots and seaside resorts.

Fifty-seven per cent of eateries had not been inspected in more than two years.

Coun Martin Foster (Con), portfolio holder for environmental services at East Lindsey District Council, blamed an IT issue with the FSA, and explained up-to-date inspection data had been impacted.

He said: “We want to emphasise that the data obtained does not fully reflect the comprehensive efforts we are undertaking in food hygiene inspections particularly establishments which are designated high risk or are failing to meet a food hygiene rating of three or above.

“Public safety remains our top priority, and while the current data may not accurately portray our inspection activity, rest assured that any changes in inspection outcomes where food businesses significantly reduce or improve their rating are promptly updated in the FSA system.”

Of Boston’s 250 eateries 18% await an inspection while in North Kesteven 53 out of the 334 have not been visited since before 2022.

South Kesteven is bucking the trend with just a handful of restaurants, 4%, which were due an inspection.

Waiter wiping the counter top in the kitchen. Photo: istock
Waiter wiping the counter top in the kitchen. Photo: istock

Similarly in South Holland, Rutland and Lincoln, the number of restaurants, bars and cafes which have gone without an inspection since before 2022 is lower 10%.

Council-employed teams rate premises on things like cleanliness, pest control and safe storage of food - giving a score between 0 in the worst cases and five in the best cases.

They also have the power to prosecute and shut businesses down in extreme circumstances.

The top rating is a 5
The top rating is a 5

The analysis of more than 250,000 public records on the Food Standards Agency website has found nationally more than 53,000 had not been inspected since 2021.

The BBC investigation comes amid heightened food safety concerns following an E-coli outbreak in June linked to contaminated products.

Emily Miles, the chief executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which oversees food hygiene inspections, said councils were generally getting through backlogs of high-risk inspections, which mounted during the covid lockdowns.

But she said the FSA was concerned lower-risk venues and new venues were not being checked.

She said: “It’s something that could be a slow burn to a very uncomfortable and unhelpful situation. We have high food standards in this country - but it’s something you won’t know you’ve got until it’s gone.”

The UK charity, Unchecked, said food standards had been affected by a “general curtailment of enforcement activity”.

A spokesperson said: “Its primarily the consequence of years of disinvestment into what used to be a pretty good system.”



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