Zero rated Liverpool takeaways to be banned from JustEat

From May this year, Liverpool restaurants with a zero star hygiene rating will no longer be listed on Just Eat.

The takeaway food delivery platform has invested £1 million to raise food hygiene and safety standards across the UK takeaway sector.

Under the new programme, Just Eat will work with any restaurant on its platform with an official Food Hygiene Rating of zero, one or two to help them improve their rating.

The news comes after a BBC investigation found nine out of 13 takeaways in Liverpool rated zero hygiene are listed on the Just Eat app.

Any zero-rated restaurant which does not improve its score by May 1 will be removed from the Just Eat platform until they do so.

In addition, any restaurants seeking to sign up to the Just Eat platform from today will be required to have a minimum Food Hygiene Rating of three by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or be registered and awaiting inspection by the local authority.

Graham Corfield, Managing Director of Just Eat in the UK, said:  "At Just Eat, we’re focused on helping the UK’s vibrant takeaway sector grow and thrive.

"We know that running a small, independent business is not without its challenges, and food hygiene and safety is a vital area that restaurants need to get right.

"The vast majority of the UK’s takeaway restaurants have good food hygiene standards already, but today’s investment means those that need extra help can now access bespoke support for free.

"Helping our customers access brilliant food and supporting restaurants to prosper and grow is what Just Eat is here to do. This investment will help ensure the takeaway sector continues to improve and meet customers’ high expectations."

The latest commitment from Just Eat follows its announcement in December 2018 of plans to include the official FSA food hygiene rating of each of its UK restaurant partners directly on its platform both in-app and online. 

Displaying FSA ratings is currently underway in Northern Ireland and will be rolled out across the whole of the UK in the coming months.