Scotland's best and worst places for food hygiene ratings have been revealed.
While the average pass rate for the country has risen since last year, diners may want to become aware of the local authorities that have the cleanest eating establishments. That said, research gathered by High Speed Training has also uncovered which areas didn't score so well overall with inspections.
Food hygiene ratings are displayed at food premises and online so customers can make more informed choices about where to eat or buy scran. Scots are being urged to pay attention to these ratings before sitting down for a meal, as they reflect a business' cleaning standards.
According to the online trainer's findings, South Ayrshire has come first for the highest food standards pass rate of 99.82 per cent, up 0.21 per cent from 2022, followed by East Lothian and East Renfrewshire.
In contrast, the Shetland Islands rank lowest in Scotland in the latest food hygiene ratings report, with a pass rate of 77.45 per cent. This follows a drop of 3.74 per cent from 2022 - the highest in the country, with Highland and Aberdeen City ranking second and third lowest.
Glasgow just edged the Old Firm Derby with a pass rate of 87.32 per cent to Edinburgh’s 86.6 per cent, placing them in 27th and 28th spot respectively. However, these two cities contain a lot more premises than other local authorities.
East Dunbartonshire saw the biggest improvement, jumping by 5 per cent. The biggest ranking dropper was Aberdeenshire, falling six places from 18th to 24th.
In Scotland, premises are inspected under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS). After an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) has reviewed the safety systems in place at a premises - observed food hygiene in practice and spoken with the staff - the businesses are given one of two grades.
They are given either a "pass" - meaning they meet the legal standard of food hygiene, or "improvement required" - meaning the legal standard of food hygiene was not evident during the inspection. The business will need to improve certain areas to then qualify for a pass.
Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training said: “One of the biggest responsibilities as a food establishment is ensuring that food safety and hygiene practices are thorough and up to date. This is why it’s so important for customers to check FHRS ratings - they are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates.
“Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have slightly improved from 2022. 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 have a significant impact on reputation and profitability.
“Correct food hygiene training for staff, alongside robust food management procedures and everyday good practices are crucial to keep performing at high standards."
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