Low food hygiene rating requires The Horseshoes in Billingford to improve

A traditional freehold pub has been told it needs to make major improvements after scoring one out of five in its latest food hygiene rating.

The Horseshoes on Lower Street in Billingford was told after an inspection on June 6 that their management of food safety requires major improvements.

This category ensures that a system or checks are in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat and shows evidence that staff know about food safety.

A spokesman for South Norfolk Council said: “ The main failings that we found related to inadequate food hygiene training for food handlers and also in relation to identifying hazards and risks.

“If their procedures are found to be lacking there will be the real potential for contamination.”

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme provides consumers with information about hygiene standards in food premises at the time they are inspected by local authority food safety officers.

When the council carries out a routine food hygiene inspections the rating is determined from three elements: compliance with food safety and hygiene procedures, compliance with structural requirements, and confidence in the management of the business, which is based on the history of the premises and the attitude of the proprietor.

In the report it said that the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and the hygienic handling of food, including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage, had been “generally satisfactory”.

The food hygiene rating ranges from zero for “urgent improvement” to five, which is “very good” and its purpose is to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places where they eat out or shop for food.

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The spokesman added: “The council will offer advice and work with the business to help them put the proper procedures in place.”

The owners of The Horseshoes declined to comment.