In a stomach-turning revelation that reads like an urban legend, health inspectors discovered what appeared to be a deep-fried rat in a Preston takeaway kitchen. But this wasn’t some late-night internet rumor – it was an official finding at Mexicano Food Box during a September 2024 inspection.
The rat was just the tip of a very unsavory iceberg. A new analysis reveals that nearly one in 20 takeaways across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are failing basic food safety standards. Of the 63,400 fast food outlets inspected, over 3,600 scored below acceptable levels on their latest inspection.
Even more alarming? Nearly 200 establishments received a zero rating – the worst possible score. That’s right: zero. As in, “maybe you should reconsider that late-night kebab” zero.
The problems aren’t limited to small, independent shops either. Major chains like Pizza Hut and Greggs have outlets that failed to make the grade. A Pizza Hut in Bolton earned a zero rating in October 2024, with inspectors noting urgent improvements needed in food safety management. Meanwhile, Greggs – yes, the beloved pastry chain – saw two of its shops in Southall and West Bromwich score a disappointing two out of five.
Liverpool and Waltham Forest are tied for the dubious honor of hosting the most zero-rated establishments, with 20 each. Birmingham follows closely with 17 failing venues, contributing to its total of 167 substandard takeaways.
Scotland, which uses a simpler pass/fail system, reports 592 establishments needing improvement. Glasgow and Edinburgh top the list of Scottish cities with failing venues, reporting 94 and 84 failures respectively.
The inspections, carried out by local authorities, focus on food handling, storage, and preparation safety – not the taste or value of the food. Establishments can be marked down for unsanitary conditions, pest problems, or improper food storage. Some inspectors have found food well past its expiration date, while others, like our friends in Preston, have discovered far worse.
For those wondering about their local takeaway’s rating, the Food Standards Agency maintains a database that’s updated daily. Though with findings like deep-fried rats and widespread failures, maybe some things are better left unknown.
Just remember: that zero rating isn’t just a number – it might be a warning sign of what’s cooking in the kitchen.