Six Huddersfield food businesses have been given a zero rating for hygiene.
The Government’s Food Standards Agency has published the results of surveys on almost half-a-million restaurants, bars, takeaways and food shops throughout the UK.
In Huddersfield, six businesses were listed on the agency’s Scores on the Doors website with a zero rating.
Consumers are invited to check out the rating for their local eaterie.
The six Huddersfield businesses with a zero rating are named as: 88 Noodle Bar, Cross Church Street, Huddersfield; Bargain World, Packhorse Shopping Centre, Huddersfield; HDM Beer Shop, Wood Street, Huddersfield; Nawroz Store, Bradford Road, Fartown; New Sanam Sweet Centre, Blacker Road, Birkby; and Shax Pizza and Grill Bar, Chapel Hill.
A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said the ratings were aimed at informing consumers and driving up standards.
He added: “The agency is working with local authorities to encourage as many of them as possible to run the national schemes so that consumers can compare hygiene ratings of food businesses in their local area and further away from home.
“Each local authority can choose whether it wants to take part or not but numbers are increasing all the time.
“The scheme is now running in 96% of areas in England and Northern Ireland and the whole of Wales.”
Mr Rob Allen, who runs the HDM Beer Shop bar in Wood Street, said his business only failed the check on a “technicality”.
He said inspectors called on January 3, after the bar had been closed over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Water heaters had been switched off while the premises were shut and staff had forgotten to turn them back on.
“We were automatically failed because we had no hot water,” said Mr Allen. “The inspector said he had no choice.”
Mr Allen said his business had been trading for 18 months and added: “The rating is not reflective of our standards.
“The problem was caused by an oversight and was literally sorted that afternoon.
We have fully trained staff and have good practices in place. We have never had any problems with food safety and hygiene is paramount.”
A follow-up visit could not be made for three months and he hoped inspectors would return as soon as possible.
Bargain World and Nawroz couldn't be contacted while the Examiner left messages at the New Sanam, 88 Noodle Bar and Shax but none returned our calls.
To look up a food business go to www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk
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