In its latest survey looking at the best and worst areas in the UK for takeaway and restaurant food hygiene, the informed consumer choice organisation Which?, has reported Mid Devon as being one of the safest areas to eat out.

Which? looked at Food Standards Agency data for 384 local authorities and found 89 per cent of food businesses in Mid Devon had received a 5 star rating.

With around 2.4 million people in the UK suffering from foodborne disease each year, food hygiene standards are an important consideration for people ordering takeaway food. While thousands of restaurants and cafes across the country have been forced to shut their doors due to the pandemic, many have switched to offering home delivery as a way of reaching customers.

Mid Devon District Council’s Food Safety Officers have continued working hard to assist and support food business operators looking to diversify by switching their in-house service to takeaway and delivery services. This follows a relaxation of planning rules to assist pubs and restaurants during the pandemic. Establishments that were not previously offering an off-site option for the consumption of their food are now able to operate as takeaways, providing hot food and drink for up to 12 months.

To help businesses further, the Public Health team will provide advice and visits free of charge, once the restrictions are lifted.  The Council’s Licensing team will also provide free pre-application advice. Supporting the hospitality community to help businesses trade safely is at the heart of this initiative as businesses step-up to serve communities across Mid Devon.

Cabinet Member for Community Well-being, Councillor Dennis Knowles, said:

“I’m delighted that Mid Devon has been recognised as one of the safest places to eat in England. This is testament to our strategy to engage with businesses from the onset and continually work with them to drive up food hygiene standards. We recognise businesses are struggling through this current crisis and will do all we can support them once the restrictions are relaxed”.

To check the hygiene rating of any business food retail outlet that is not displaying its their hygiene rating, visit ratings.food.gov.uk or download the Food Hygiene Rating app.

To see how all the local authority areas performed in an interactive map according to the Which? survey, visit: infogram.com/food-ratings-map-1h9j6ql5x71v2gz?live.

For more business support and advice including food takeaway and delivery guidance, visit middevon.gov.uk/COVID19BusinessSupport. You can also email health@middevon.gov.uk.