A Staggering Number of British Takeout Restaurants Fail Hygiene Inspections

There are some nights when even a Dolmio-special supper of jarred Bolognese sauce, quick-cook ravioli, and pre-grated mozzarella seems like too much effort. And you know that if you time your Deliveroo order just as you leave the office, a jalfrezi with a side of naan will arrive at your door at exactly the same time you do.

But it might be time to think your takeaway, despite how temptingly convenient it is.

A new analysis of Food Standards Agency (FSA) data as of September 19 shows that one in seven takeaways in the UK failed food hygiene inspections. According to the FSA website, this can mean "urgent improvement is required" in how food is handled, the condition of the building's facilities, and how the business manages food safety standards.

Think about that the next time you're scooping lukewarm noodles out of a polystyrene box.

The investigation, carried out by the Guardian, found that Newham in East London was the worst performing area. Data showed that 50.4 percent of takeaways here received a hygiene rating of zero to two out of the maximum of five. This is deemed unsatisfactory by the FSA.

The London borough was followed on the list of takeaway food hygiene shame by Epsom and Ewell, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham.

But it's not all bad news. While city dwellers cry into their katsu, residents of the Orkney Islands, north Devon, South Ayrshire, Torridge, and Harrogate can celebrate with extra spring rolls and have peace of mind. Food establishments in these regions are among the highest rated in the country.

Currently it's not compulsory in England and Scotland for eateries to publicly display their food hygiene score. But if you think you think you smell a rat when picking up your meat feast, it is possible to search for a food establishment's rating on the FSA website.

In Wales, however, it's been a requirement since 2013 for businesses to have their rating on show. In a press statement to MUNCHIES, a spokesperson for the FSA said the same must happen across the UK: "Mandatory display of food hygiene ratings […] further encourages other businesses to improve their ratings. We are preparing for mandatory display in England and are in the process of building the case for this and the Government will consider this evidence once available."

In the meantime, that Dolmio-special ain't looking so bad, after all.