Luton has lowest food hygiene rating in the east of England
Despite a slight improvement from its 2023 rating, Luton remains at the bottom of the regional rankings
Luton has been ranked the lowest in food hygiene ratings among towns and cities in the East of England, with an average score of 4.33, according to a recent report by High Speed Training. Despite a slight improvement from its 2023 rating, Luton remains at the bottom of the regional rankings.
The report, which analyzed Food Standards Agency (FSA) data for over 215,000 food businesses across the UK, highlighted the food hygiene performance of various towns and cities in the region. Ipswich led the East of England with an impressive average rating of 4.89, making it the third highest in the UK. St Albans showed the most significant improvement, increasing its average rating from 4.27 in 2023 to 4.41 in 2024.
Overall, the East of England achieved an average food hygiene rating of 4.59 in 2024, slightly up from 4.58 in 2023. Norwich, with nearly 800 premises, had the second lowest rating in the region at 4.39. Basildon experienced the most considerable decline, with its rating dropping by 0.14 to 4.51.
High Speed Training's report also revealed that 16% of takeaways in the East of England scored a 3 or below, while 90% of all businesses received a rating of 4 or 5. Additionally, twenty premises in the region scored a zero, and 223 scored a one on their food hygiene rating.
Dr. Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, emphasized the importance of food hygiene ratings. "Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses. Recently, we have seen many high-profile cases of food poisoning and illnesses caused by food-borne bacteria. This is why food hygiene ratings are so important - they are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates and are of critical importance to consumers."
He added, "For businesses that perform well, a high rating is a real selling point. However, establishments with a low hygiene rating can be extremely off-putting for customers, which ultimately has a significant impact on reputation and profitability."
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), in partnership with local authorities, provides customers with information on how well a business maintains food hygiene and safety standards. While it is compulsory for businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland to display their ratings, it is only considered best practice in England.