Edinburgh eateries second worst for food hygiene

Figures showed more than 30 eateries in Edinburgh fell foul of council inspectors between 2013 and 2014. Picture: PA

EDINBURGH’S restaurants and takeaways are among the worst in the UK in terms of food hygiene, a report has revealed.

A higher proportion of restaurants, cafes, takeaways and other organisations which serve food, such as hospitals and care homes, fail to meet required standards in Edinburgh than almost anywhere else in Britain.

Only 68 per cent of food businesses reach the standards set out by the Food Standards Agency, while the rest are rated “Improvement Required” by local authority inspectors.

The capital’s eateries score the worst in Scotland, while only Enfield in London ranks lower on the scale UK-wide.

Figures last year showed more than 30 takeaways and restaurants in Edinburgh fell foul of council inspectors between 2013 and 2014.

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Meanwhile, Perth & Kinross and Falkirk are also in the UK’s bottom ten, ranking sixth and seventh respectively.

Which? spokesman Gordon MacRae said: “Our research reveals a shocking postcode lottery on food hygiene, where in some places you may as well toss a coin before deciding which restaurant to trust with your health. Consumers expect local authorities to check that food businesses in their area comply with hygiene standards and rigorously enforce the rules.

Last year, one Edinburgh takeaway, the Tikka Masala Indian Takeaway, in the Pleasance, was banned from serving food for two weeks after inspectors discovered it o