The Suffolk restaurants and takeaways handed one or zero star food hygiene ratings this year
When choosing a restaurant for a special occasion or picking a takeaway for date-night you want to know you are in safe hands in terms of quality and hygiene.
The Food Standards Agency works with local authorities to enforce food safety rules and award star-ratings to businesses, giving residents an indication of the cleanliness and hygiene.
Here's a list of the Suffolk eateries handed a one or zero star rating since the beginning of the year.
1. Woolpit Fish and Chip Shop
The Woolpit Fish and Chip Shop was inspected by a food safety officer on March 11 and given a one-star rating.
The take-away eatery is located on The Street in Woolpit and has an average of four-stars on TripAdvisor.
However, during the inspection the officer found major improvement was needed in food safety and also improvement in the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, which can include having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control.
The fish and chip shop was rated 'generally satisfactory' in the hygienic food handling category.
2. St Andrews Café, Mildenhall
St Andrews Café in St Andrews Street, Mildenhall, was rated one star on January 26, following an inspection.
The café offered snacks and light lunches including salads, jacket potatoes, wraps and breakfasts.
While the eatery has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, an inspector said major improvement was needed in food safety.
Meanwhile the cleanliness of the building was rated 'good' and the food handling 'generally satisfactory'.
3. Allens Butchers, Halesworth
Allens Butchers in Market Place Halesworth was rated zero stars when it was inspected on March 8.
The inspector found that 'urgent improvement' was necessary in the food safety category, while hygienic food handling also needed improvement.
Cleanliness and condition of facilities was found to be generally satisfactory at this traditional butchers.
4. Asian Spice Tandoori, Haverhill
This Haverhill-based Indian take-away was handed a one-star food hygiene rating on March 24.
Asian Spice Tandoori can be found on Queen Street and, at the time of inspection, was found to need improvement in all three categories.
An inspector said that 'major improvement' was necessary in the management of food safety while improvement was also necessary in cleanliness of facilities and food handling.
4. Mon Mon Spice, Woolpit
Mon Mon Spice serves Indian dishes from its location just off the A14 at Woolpit.
Following an inspection on March 24, the restaurant was awarded a rating of one star and inspectors said 'major improvement' was needed in the management of food safety.
They also noted improvement was required in hygienic food handling, which includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and food storage.
However, the restaurant did achieve the rating of 'good' in the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building category. It has a three-star rating on TripAdvisor.
On July 8, Mon Mon Spice was handed a four-star rating. Click here to find out more.
6. Spice Valley, Lowestoft
Spice Valley at Pier Terrance in Lowestoft was given a one-star rating following an inspection.
The food safety officer visited on March 20, and found food handling and the overall cleanliness to be satisfactory and good respectively.
However, the Indian takeaway was found to require major improvement in management of food safety, putting it in the one-star category.
7. Carlton Colville News and Cards
This newsagents in Famona Road, Carlton Colville, was handed a one-star rating on March 19.
Major improvement was identified as necessary in food handling while improvement was also needed in cleanliness and condition of facilities.
Food safety was generally satisfactory at this East Suffolk retailer.
8. The Adams Family Shoppe, Lowestoft
One star was granted to this restaurant and coffee shop in London Road South when it was inspected on February 4.
The Adams Family Shoppe sells coffee and afternoon tea as well as 'homemade pies, cakes and savouries'.
While the restaurant was rated generally satisfactory in management of food safety, the officer found improvement was necessary in the cleanliness of the facilities.
The report also highlighted major improvement was needed in hygienic food handling, amounting to a rating of one star.
To check ratings in your area, visit the Food Standards Agency website here.
