Flies complaint prompted 1-star McDonald’s food hygiene shocker

Powys County Council (PCC) has revealed the reasons as to why Welshpool’s McDonald’s was handed a 1-star food hygiene rating, as reported by us last week.

The restaurant, which was called the “world’s best” by a Michelin-starred chef during an interview last Christmas, was found to be inundated by “a large number of flies throughout the premises” and that the “cleanliness of the premises fell short of food hygiene and safety requirements”.

PCC said that McDonald’s has 21 days to appeal the decision and that the 1-star rating would remain in place until the next routine unannounced visit.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys and also a Welshpool councillor, said: “We inspect food businesses across Powys to ensure they follow food hygiene and safety regulations so that the food is safe to eat.

“Following a complaint from a member of the public concerning flies within the premises, environmental health officers carried out a visit to investigate and undertake a full Food Hygiene Rating Scheme inspection.

“During the visit, environmental health officers noted a large number of flies throughout the premises and the cleanliness of the premises fell short of food hygiene and safety requirements.  A Food Hygiene Rating Score of one was subsequently awarded.

“Management of the premises were immediately advised what was required to ensure compliance with food hygiene and safety law.  A revisit was undertaken by an environmental health officer within days to assess progress with compliance.

“The food business operator has 21 days to appeal the rating they were given and the appeal period is still in place.

“To date, no request for a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme re-rating inspection has been made. The food business operator will keep their current rating until their next routine unannounced full inspection.”

Last week, the chain’s headquarters told us that a team of experts would be dispatched immediately to try and rectify the problem, adding: “We are confident that the urgent action we have taken has improved the standards at the store and we will be requesting a re-visit inspection where we intend to return to our usual 5-star rating as soon as possible.”