HERE is a look at 10 eating venues in St Helens which have been given new food hygiene ratings.

The Food Standards Agency (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.

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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.

Takeaways, clubs, chippies and pubs are among the recent venues in St Helens to have been given a new rating recently.

Which venues in St Helens have been given new ratings?

Portico Vine ARLFC at Outdoor Changing Facility Scholes Lane Playing Field, Scholes Lane, Portico – rated 5 on June 7

Billinge Chapel End Labour Club at Chapel End Labour Club, Main Street, Billinge; rated 5 on June 13

Square & Compass Catering at St Helens Masonic Club, Hall Street, St Helens; rated 5 on June 7

Cowley Vaults pub at Cooper Street, St Helens; rated 5 on June 6

Rainford Cricket Club at Clubhouse and Cricket Ground adjacent To Jubilee Recreation Ground, Church Road, Rainford; rated 5 on June 6

Chipmunk at Higher Parr Street, Fingerpost; rated 5 on June 5

Groke at Baldwin Street, St Helens; rated 5 on June 4

Chicago Pizza, Baldwin Street, St Helens, rated 3 after assessment on May 14.

Bazza's Breakfast Bar, at West Park Rugby Football Club, Prescot Road, St Helens, rated 4 after assessment on May 17.

Clock Kitchen, Clock Face Road, Clock Face, rated 4 after assessment on May 20.