IT’S END OF DIRTY TAKEAWAYS

Delivery giant’s zero rating ban

DELIVERY giant Just Eat is to ban takeaways from outlets with a zero hygiene rating.

The firm, which picks up food from more than 30,000 restaurants in Britain, is to invest £1million to raise hygiene and safety standards.

And it has pledged to help any outlet on its app with a rating of zero, one or two to improve. If any fail to up a zero rating by May 1, they will be barred.

A BBC probe last year found half of outlets rated as zero by the Food Standards Agency in London, Manchester and Bristol were on the site. The app had 20 out of the 31 zero-rated takeaways in Birmingham and nine out of 13 in Liverpool.

Just Eat will pay for a food safety expert to visit takeaways needing improvement.

It will also draw up an action plan to help them as well as offer guidance on how to request a reinspection.

Heather Hancock, chairman of the FSA, said: “Quite rightly, Just Eat is making clear food that safety and hygiene must be a priority for partner businesses.”

A zero rating means “urgent improvement is required”, while one needs “major improvement”.

Graham Corfield, boss of Just Eat, said: “We know running a small, independent business is not without its challenges.

“Food hygiene and safety is a vital area restaurants need to get right.”

Just Eat also plans to include official hygiene ratings from the FSA more clearly on its site.