TWELVE food outlets in Bolton have a zero food hygiene rating — meaning they require urgent improvement.

A further 73 outlets have a one rating, meaning major improvement is necessary, according to the Food Standards Agency website.

However, the majority of food establishments in Bolton are still meeting or exceeding the required standard in food hygiene.

Of the 2,063 businesses rated in the town, 938 have the highest five rating, meaning that hygiene is very good and 630 have a four rating, the rating for good.

Of the remaining establishments, 317 have a three rating for generally satisfactory and 92 have a two for improvement necessary.

The scheme is designed to help people choose where they eat or shop for food and the rating gives an idea of what is going on in the kitchen as well as where the customer sees.

Outlets in England currently do not have to display their rating.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The council’s food safety team is robust and vigilant in carrying out inspections of food premises. Inspection frequency is based on risk and depends on hygiene standards within the business, the effectiveness of management and the history of compliance.

"Overall, 89 per cent of food businesses in Bolton are classed as broadly compliant with standards of food safety. Of those businesses included in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, 85 percent have a hygiene rating of 3 — generally satisfactory or above.

"Written reports are provided following every inspection. Businesses that score zero are issued with a written warning, identifying any contraventions of food law and given a timescale to rectify any issues. Some are issued with Hygiene Improvement Notices and some may be subject to closure until standards have improved.

"Officers provide businesses with advice and use an educational approach wherever possible. However, where there are serious risks to health or repeated contraventions of food hygiene law, formal enforcement powers are used. This may include prosecution of the business operator with courts imposing substantial fines and in some cases, the operator being banned from running a food business in future”.

Ratings are worked out by a food safety officer inspecting a business to check it meets the requirements of food hygiene law.

The officer will check how hygienically the food is handled, the condition of the structure of the building and how the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe.

Bolton food outlets with a zero food hygiene rating (According to scoresonthedoors.org.uk)

  • Al Noor Superstore Ltd 232-234 Halliwell Road, Bolton BL1 3QD.
  • Arabisque - Taboosh 18-20 Bank Street Bolton BL1 1TS.
  • Bizarro 72 Church Street Little Lever Bolton.
  • Camel One 205-207 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JT.
  • Chop Suey Bar 291 Plodder Lane, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 0BR.
  • Mrs Rileys Kitchen 24 Manchester Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8NZ.
  • Naafiah Restaraunt 201-203 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JT.
  • ONL Chinese Takeaway 251 Lee Lane, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7JL.
  • Pizza Perfect 3 Market Street, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3AH (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Rajshahi Restaurant 209 St Georges Road, Bolton, BL1 2PG.
  • Red 2 Black Snooker Hall Unit 3, Coe Street, Bolton BL3 6BU.
  • Taj Mahal 39 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6HE (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).

Bolton food outlets with a one food hygiene rating (According to scoresonthedoors.org.uk)

  • A La Pizza 27 Plodder Lane, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 0BZ.
  • A Star Chippy 289 Lever Street, Bolton, BL3 6PD.
  • Alif Takeaway 170 New Street, Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5AQ.
  • American Fried Chicken 77 Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 7NS (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Arabian Mist The Bunker, Gilnow Lane, Bolton BL3 5EL.
  • A Star Chippy 289 Lever Street, Bolton, BL3 6PD.
  • Bargain Booze 363 Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5HL.
  • Best One 198 Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8LZ.
  • BG Food Store 16 Athlone Avenue, Bolton, BL1 6QS (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Buttylicious 255 St Helens Road, Bolton, BL3 3QA.
  • Ciao Baby 501 Blackburn Road, Egerton, Bolton BL7 9PR.
  • Curry Centre 68 Egerton Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 7LE.
  • Daisy Hill Football Club Daisy Hill New Sirs, St James Street, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 2EB.
  • Donner 24 154 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5QW.
  • Dragon Capital 51 Higher Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 8HQ.
  • E A Entwistle 356 Crescent Road, Bolton, BL3 2LZ.
  • European General Food Store 131-133 Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AG.
  • Finest Foods Gilnow Road, Bolton, BL1 4LL.
  • Flower Takeaway 175 Crescent Road, Bolton, BL3 2JS.
  • Fultons 7 Pavilion Square, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3AJ.
  • Gafoor Grocers 14 0 Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5DL.
  • Gilnow Chippy 3 Gilnow Road, Bolton, BL1 4LH.
  • Goa Balti Spice 168 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5QW.
  • Golden Dragon 112 Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9AE.
  • Grill 'N' Greens 119 Deansgate, Bolton, BL1 1HA.
  • Halliwell Cafe 465 Halliwell Road, Bolton, BL1 8DB.
  • Hardy Hall 51-53 Church Street, Little Lever, Bolton BL3 1BL.
  • Harvey's Cafe Bar Mawdsley Street, Bolton, BL1 1LF.
  • JK's Caf 257 Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, BL2 2JG.
  • Kani Restaurant 148 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JR.
  • Kearsley Cricket Club Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8LA.
  • Kearsley Pizza and Kebab 114 Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8LA.
  • Kurdistan Sweet Ltd 106-108 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6HG.
  • La Scala 49 Chorley Road, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3PD.
  • L & B Restaurant 162 Derby Street, Bolton, BL3 6JR.
  • Little India 582 Blackburn Road, Bolton, BL1 7AL.
  • Madina Halal Meat Superstore 198 Crescent Road, Bolton, BL3 2JU (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Main Room 335 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5PP.
  • Market Fish Bar 50 Brackley Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9DR.
  • Mashs Peri-Peri Chicken 204 Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5DP.
  • Mirchi Pizza Dallas Chicken Limited 252-254 St Helens Road, Bolton, BL3 3PZ.
  • Mohammed Halal Meat Shop Stall A4, A5 Ashburner Street Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ.
  • Mr Fred Brandwood Shop 8, Ashburner Street Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Mumbai Indian Restaurant 137-141 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5QF.
  • Nkono Stall F3, Ashburner Street Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ.
  • Nuttalls Confectionery Ltd 64-66 Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 7NY.
  • Pizza Corn Ltd 86-88 Higher Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9BB (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Prego 310 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 4JU.
  • Premier Store 125-127 St James Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9SL.
  • Prices 96 Church Street, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3RZ.
  • Reggae Vibes 210 St Georges Road, Bolton, BL1 2PH.
  • Roma Chippy 547a Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6JZ.
  • Sanghani Stores 71 Halshaw Lane, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8DD.
  • Shimas Rice n Oodles Unit Of1, Ashburner Street Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Shimla Indian Restaraunt 510 Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton BL7 9DX.
  • Shree News 148 Winchester Way, Bolton, BL2 5AG (Recently inspected - new rating coming soon).
  • Speedy Gonzales 2 Tonge Old Road, Bolton, BL2 6BH.
  • Spice Bar 212 Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5NP.
  • Spice Hut 118 Bradshawgate, Bolton, BL2 1AY.
  • Tex Mex 270 Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5HP.
  • Thailand Cafe 66 Bridge Street, Bolton, BL1 2EF.
  • The New Curry House 148-150 Bradshawgate, Bolton, BL2 1BA.
  • The Queen Anne 25 Junction Road, Bolton, BL3 4LT.
  • Tornado Food House 844 Bury Road, Bolton, BL2 6PA.
  • Town Cafe 9 Deansgate, Bolton, BL1 1HH.
  • Trinity Cafe & African Restaurant 126 Newport Street, Bolton, BL3 6AB.
  • Trojan 14 Higher Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9AJ.
  • Unity Catering Limited Unity Brook, 452 Manchester Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8RX.
  • Valentino's 193 Rishton Lane, Bolton, BL3 2BN.
  • Valentino's 288 Halliwell Road, Bolton, BL1 3QB.
  • Volcano 27 Lowndes Street, Bolton, BL1 4PZ.
  • Weavers Arms 8 Brunel Street, Bolton, BL1 8AS.
  • Xhale The Bunker, Gilnow Lane, Bolton BL3 5EL.
  • Zahara 223 Manchester Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8QX