EATERIES and pubs across St Helens have been given food hygiene rating scores following inspections by the Food Standards Agency in October.

The FSA is responsible for ensuring that establishments are up to scratch in terms of food hygiene regulations, and that they are safe to frequent.

Establishments are graded against the following criteria:

  • Hygienic food handling - Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.
  • Management of food safety - System or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.
  • Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building - Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene.

Ranging from zero to five, food hygiene ratings are given to food handling businesses after an inspection has assessed how well they comply with food safety laws.

The rating reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of the inspection.

Here is how the scores are graded.

5 – hygiene standards are very good

4 – hygiene standards are good

3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

2 – some improvement is necessary

1 – major improvement is necessary

0 – urgent improvement is required

If businesses are awarded a score lower than five, the local authority officer will explain what action they can take to improve.

Here is a look at how 12 venues have scored following recent visits.

Sutton Village Chippy

Sutton Village Chippy, on Peckers Hill Road, Sutton was given a score of four out of five after assessment on October 23.

Millon Restaurant

Millon Restaurant, on Duke Street, St Helens was given a score of three out of five after an assessment on October 19 by the Food Standards Agency.

Crisp E Cod

Crisp E Cod, on Hoghton Road, Sutton was handed a four-out-of-five rating after assessment on October 18.

Billinge Spice

Billinge Spice, on Main Street, Billinge was given a score of two out of five after an inspection on October 18.

Blue Tiffin

Meanwhile, Blue Tiffin on Market Street, Earlestown was rated three after a visit on October 17

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St Anne's Parish Centre

St Anne's Parish Centre at St Anne And Blessed Dominic Parish Centre, on Monastery Road, Sutton was rated as four out of five after assessment on October 17

Oak Tree

The Oak Tree, on Crow Lane East, Newton Le Willows; was rated two after inspection on October 17

Brown Edge

The Brown Edge Hotel, on Nutgrove Road, was given a score of two after assessment on October 11 by the Food Standards Agency.

Salvation Army

The  Salvation Army at Salvation Army Hall, Tickle Avenue, Parr, was rated five out of five after assessment on October 30.

Living Well Café 

Living Well Café at Alexandra Works, on Borough Road, St Helens, was rated five out of five after an inspection on October 25.

PDG's Eatery

PDG's Eatery at Cambridge Road, Newtown, St Helens was given five out of five from an assessment on October 24

The Moss Bank

Meanwhile, The Moss Bank, at The Moss Bank Hotel, on Moss Bank Road, was rated three after assessment on October 10.