Food hygiene inspectors issued five poor ratings to eateries and shops in Watford recently.

Throughout the year since the Food Standards Agency resumed inspections after lockdown, there were barely poor ratings issued at Watford Borough Council.

But between the end of September and November, there have been several places that either “urgent” or “major” improvement was necessary.

Inspections are to make sure that food hygiene is up to code and holds good food safety standards.

Ratings on a scale are then issued to rank the hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

Five is top of the scale, meaning the hygiene standards are very good and fully comply with the law and zero is at the bottom of the scale, meaning urgent improvement is necessary.

Here is a list of recent inspections where poor ratings were found:

Watford Halal Meat Centre

65 Chester Road

On September 29, it was found that Watford Halal Meat Centre required “urgent improvement necessary” with a rating of 0.

Specifically the management of food safety required “urgent improvement” while the cleanliness of facilities and the hygienic food handling was found “improvement necessary”.

Valea Prahove

26 Vicarage Road

On September 29, it was found that “major improvement” was necessary for the store, with a rating of 1.

Specifically, “major improvement” was necessary for the management of food safety, while the cleanliness of facilities and hygienic food handling were found to be “good”.

Love Falafel

Unit 34, Watford Market

On October 6, it was found that “urgent improvement” was necessary at the stall, as inspectors gave a rating of 0.

Both the management of food safety and cleanliness of the facilities needed “major improvement” while the hygienic food handling was ranked with “improvement necessary”.

Django Grocery

340, St Albans Road

On October 11, inspectors found the store required “urgent improvement”, with a rating of 0.

Specifically it was the management of food safety that “urgent improvement” was necessary, while both the hygienic food handling and cleanliness of facilities both needed “major improvement”.

NW Supermarket

334 - 336 St Albans Road

On October 18, it was found that “major improvement” was needed, with a rating of 1.

Both the hygienic food handling and cleanliness of facilities were ranked with “improvement necessary” while the management of food safety required “major improvement”.