The number of food premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme needing 'major' or 'urgent' hygiene improvement increased from four to 21 last year.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council published food hygiene ratings for 894 food businesses in April, with the vast majority – 774 – achieving the highest 'very good' standard.

But the number of premises needing major improvements increased to 18 from four in 2025, while three were given the lowest, zero rating, meaning urgent improvements are necessary – up from none at all in the previous year.

Members of the public protection committee quizzed officers on these figures, which were included in the food safety service's annual review.

Food premises such as restaurants, takeaways and shops are inspected and given ratings between zero and five based on their compliance with food hygiene law and inspectors' confidence in management.

Any business which fails to achieve the top two ratings is subject to an 'enhanced' number of revisits, and enforcement action where necessary.

Councillor David Hutchison raised concerns about the increase in low rated premises, and asked if officers' knew the reason for it. He said: "We had four premises with a rating of one [major improvement necessary] in April 2025, and then in April 2026 we had 18, so we've increased by 14.

"Is this fast food outlets? Is it people's ignorance – do they think they don't have to do certain things? Is this figure something we should worry about?"

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Environmental health manager Gareth Harvey was not able to give a definitive reason for the increase. But he assured the committee that any low rating would result in appropriate action to protect the public.

He said: "I wouldn't say I'd be worried about it. The fact that we've rated them as that level means we will have carried out enhanced re-visits and potentially some enforcement action. I know some of them have had hygiene improvement notices.

"Unfortunately we can't control the conditions we find, and in that year we found some poor performers. We're not sure the reasons for that.

"But every one of those which are scored at that lower level will be receiving enhanced inspections. We won't be leaving them alone. They're likely to be re-inspected in six months, and we'll be there in between that time as well. You can be assured that we will ensure they meet the required standard."

Mr Harvey suggested the council was still seeing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in delayed inspections and 'quite poor standards' developing at some premises.

Food premises are inspected at a frequency based on their risk assessment, with 345 in the borough due to receive inspections in 2026/27.

Businesses also have the option of paying for early re-inspections in order to improve their published rating.