The Isle of Wight Council carried out just 1 food hygiene safety inspection between March and November last year, Island Echo can reveal.
Although many restaurants and pubs were closed for long periods of time in 2020, takeaways remained open throughout and there were several weeks or months during the Summer when eateries re-opened their doors and welcomed back the masses.
Despite this, no fast food takeaways on the Island have been inspected since 27th February last year with Island Echo discovering at least 1 takeaway in Ryde that hasn’t been inspected in almost 4 years – and may not be inspected for some time to come.
The last establishments to be inspected before the first coronavirus lockdown hit were Albert Cottage Hotel (4 stars) and Chillerton and Rookley Primary School (2 stars). They were both visited on 13th March 2020.
Officials didn’t conduct any further food safety inspections until 5th October when Isle of Wight Dairy Goats at The Green Barn, Bouldnor received 5 stars. The next inspection to be carried out was on 20th November, meaning just 1 inspection was completed in 8 months.
Things have improved slightly with 5 inspections conducted since 20th November; Coppid Hall Farm, Pennethorn Park Farm and Toto all achieving a 5 star rating, with W.Woodford & Son and Gods Providence House receiving 4 stars. However, it has been confirmed that all routine inspections have been suspended.
A spokesperson for the local authority has told Island Echo that they are simply following national guidance:
“The Business Regulation team continues to be critical in the delivery of the Government Regulation and prevention framework for COVID-19.
Article continues below this advertisement “We can confirm that we are following the current guidance and advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on delivery of official food and feed controls during the lockdown in England. Whilst this does not prioritise routine food inspections it requires ongoing surveillance, interventions and investigations based on risk, this could include follow up on food related complaints or incidents and new or recently reopened businesses.
“Whilst not undertaking routine visits officers are and will continue to pick-up food safety issues alongside work on COVID-19 restrictions and regulations, should anyone have concerns around a specific business please email those concerns to [email protected] .
“At the current time we are unable to confirm when routine inspections are due to resume and await further guidance from the FSA.”
The Council has been unable to explain how they intend to work through an inevitable backlog of inspections in 2021 and beyond.
Data correct as per published reports on 14th January 2020.
Unbelievable is all i can say.
Cook your OWN food. You have a supermarket and a cooker USE IT.
Don’t forget they are all very tired
Wouldn’t touch a takeaway with a barge pole at the moment , so this news doesn’t make a lot of difference to me.
So many of these establishments are filthy
You only have to look at the staff, some have more food on their
Uniforms than you get in your wrapper
No Takeaways for me at present thank you!
Not surprised…they probably spent the money buying up crap property, propping up the Floating bridge, feeding the planets spongers and layabouts, as well as loading up their own pockets – no cash left for food inspections.
I had to report new China house in Ventnor after being served raw chicken. I receive a email stating it wasn’t a priority and no either action would be taken until next inspection! What a absolute joke
Go to mandarin instead no problems there.
Not a priority that’s a laugh it will be when they kill some poor bugger. Sorry forgot the council’s to tired nothing will get done not until they get another rise
The only rise they need is on the end of a boot , perhaps appropriately down by the non floating bridge, ooh perhaps they could be useful they could all push pull it back and forth !!!!!
Well thy have nothing better to do !!!!!
Really?
Busy then
Not the sort of article to advertise, watch all standards slip even more now knowing inspectors wont be walkin in anytime soon
Th council have been given a fortune by the government to assist with Covid problems,
so what have they done with the money.
What are the council staff now doing, as it appears that the jobs they were employed to do are no longer being done.
I would also bet that the majority of council workers working from home are not working a full day.
They gave themselves a pay rise and spending on the stupid floatie thing
They’re all so tired remember so they can’t be expected to do a whole day!
Am I suprised.
No!
Must be be fixing the chain ferry!
Star rating zero.
Only home prepared food for me I know that’s 5 star!
Hold on they are working from home. I bet the kitchens in the house hold don’t come up to scratch. I saw a guy doing a check on a cafe and he put he’s folder on the roof of his car. Guess what it had birds mess all over the roof. Whoops
This is our hardworking council looking after us dont you know, I bet they wont be spending their next big fat pay rise in a takeaway any time soon. I guess theres enough gravey on that particular train already.
It’s because the Food Standards Agency won’t allow the council to use remote inspections to calculate the rating. Unlike Ofsted, they require an on-site visit no matter what the nature of the business. Overdue inspections will likely be reset in the summer, meaning many establishments will see an extended period between visits. In some cases this could be up to 4 years.