London hotels ordered to improve food hygiene

Updated
Hotels in London ordered to improve food hygiene
Hotels in London ordered to improve food hygiene




Nearly 60 London hotels have been told to improve their food hygiene, including some of the capital's most prestigious establishments.

In a new report, a government watchdog has slammed hundreds of hotels across the UK for poor food hygiene giving more than 550 hotels two stars or less.

The four-star Royal Lancaster Hotel near Hyde Park and the Radisson Blu Edwardian in Covent Garden, London were among those to have received two stars or less, the Evening Standard reports.

The Food Standards Agency examines how hygienically the food is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored, the cleanliness of buildings, and how restaurants make sure food is safe.

Under FSA rules, a two-star rating requires establishments to make some improvements, while a rating of one star requires 'major improvement', TravelMole reports.

A zero score means hotels must make urgent improvements.

"Unclean practices in a hotel kitchen could mean your simple bowl of porridge has you reaching for another kind of bowl right afterwards - or even heading to hospital," said consumer group Which?, which carried out the research.

The FSA estimates that there are 500,000 cases of food poisoning every year.

Which? is now calling for food hygiene ratings to be made compulsory. Travel editor Jill Starley-Grainger, said: "It's shocking that any hotel would put their guests' health at risk so we want the display of food hygiene ratings made compulsory as soon as possible.

"This will provide greater transparency and give consumers confidence about where they choose to eat."



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