London food hygiene ratings: Borough with 3 times as many 0-star eateries as any other

One London borough has more than three times as many zero-star food hygiene rated businesses as any other, with the council saying it takes a "zero-tolerance" approach to health risks.

Food hygiene inspections are carried out by authorised council officers at commercial premises selling food, including restaurants, cafes and catering services.

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), as of January 29 2024, Waltham Forest has 97 premises carrying a zero-star rating for food hygiene. Second on the list is Camden with 28, followed by Ealing with 26.

Three London boroughs recorded no zero-star ratings: Bexley, Hammersmith and Fulham and Richmond-upon-Thames. 

Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, Waltham Forest Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “Our food and safety team work incredibly hard to make sure that all restaurants and food outlets across the borough adhere to appropriate hygiene standards, protecting everyone who wants to eat out safely in our borough. 

“As a council we take a zero-tolerance approach with food businesses who do not comply with their legal requirements and put residents’ health at risk. It shows we do not hesitate to use the full range of powers at our disposal. We close and prosecute about 50 businesses a year due to poor hygiene, food safety management and pest problems – historically, this is more than most other London boroughs. 

“There are around 2,000 registered food businesses in the borough and I’m pleased to say that the vast majority (85%) take their responsibilities seriously, achieving a rating of three or higher under the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.  But the council will always take consistent enforcement action against any food business, whether large or small, based on the findings and risks identified during food hygiene inspections.” 

Inspections look at three areas: "hygienic food handling", "cleanliness and condition of facilities" and "building and management of food safety". Businesses awarded a zero-star score are told that these areas need improvement.

Zero food Hygiene ratings

This is the list of London boroughs as at January 29 2024.

• Waltham Forest – 97 zero-star ratings
• Camden – 28-zero-star ratings
• Ealing – 26 zero-star ratings
• Westminster – 21 zero-star ratings
• Newham – 16 zero-star ratings
• Kingston upon Thames – 10 zero-star ratings
• Tower Hamlets – 10 zero-star ratings
• Hillingdon – 9 zero-star ratings
• Enfield – 6 zero-star ratings
• Brent – 6 zero-star ratings
• Lewisham – 6 zero-star ratings
• Havering – 6 zero-star ratings
• Haringey – 6 zero-star ratings
• Barking and Dagenham – 6 zero-star ratings
• Redbridge – 5 zero-star ratings
• Greenwich – 3 zero-star ratings
• Croydon – 3 zero-star ratings
• Kensington and Chelsea - 3 zero-star ratings
• Merton – 3 zero-star ratings
• Hackney – 2 zero-star ratings
• Sutton – 2 zero-star ratings
• Islington – 2 zero-star ratings
• Hounslow – 2 zero-star ratings
• Barnet – 2 zero-star ratings
• Wandsworth – 2 zero-star rating
• Southwark – 1 zero-star rating
• Lambeth – 1 zero-star rating
• Harrow – 1 zero-star rating
• City of London – 1 zero-star rating
• Bromley – 1 zero-star rating
• Richmond upon Thames – 0 zero-star ratings
• Hammersmith and Fulham – 0 zero-star ratings
• Bexley – 0 zero-star ratings