Costcutter says 'urgent action' is being taken after one of its convenience stores in Carshalton was received the lowest possible food hygiene rating by inspectors.
The branch, in Middleton Road, was given zero stars and told 'urgent improvement is necessary' after being judged on hygienic food handling, the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, and the management of food safety.
But it is currently unclear why it received the lowest possible rating, out of five, when it was inspected on January 15.
A Costcutter Supermarkets Group spokeswoman said: “Consistency of store standards amongst our independent retailers who run the vast majority of our stores is a priority for the business.
“The retailer at the Costcutter store on Middleton Road has taken urgent action to ensure the shopping experience is of the highest standard.”
Details were published on the government’s Food Standards Agency website after the store was inspected, and the rating was given after it was visited by food safety officers from Sutton Council.
Three elements were judged:
1. How hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
2. The condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, and other facilities
3. How the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future
This Costcutter branch was told there is 'improvement necessary' in the first category, 'urgent improvement necessary' in the second and 'major improvement necessary' in the third.
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