Oxford has lowest food hygiene scores in county

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 20:38 · Archive

Oxford has the lowest food hygiene scores across Oxfordshire, with 2 per cent of its 1,348 businesses rated two or below, an increase from 1.9 per cent in June 2025. The city's average score is still 4.79 out of five. West Oxfordshire has the fewest low-rated businesses in the county and South East region, with only 0.3 per cent of its 1,021 businesses scoring two or below.

Other Oxfordshire districts have slightly better records than Oxford. In South Oxfordshire, 1.9 per cent of businesses scored two or below, whilst Cherwell District Council and Vale of White Horse had 1.8 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively. Across the broader South East, Portsmouth has the worst ratings, with over 8 per cent of businesses scoring two or below.

Nationally, data from Cairn Catering Engineers found that one in 34 premises holds a rating of two or below, with 863 sitting at zero, the lowest possible score. Takeaways and sandwich shops are around 13 times more likely to be poorly rated than school canteens, while independent shops and eateries are more than ten times more likely to score badly than large chains. Food businesses are inspected by local authority environmental health officers and rated on hygienic food handling, facility cleanliness and food safety management.

How it is being reported

• Oxford has lowest food hygiene scores across the countyOxford has the lowest food hygiene scores across the county, with West Oxfordshire scoring the best.Oxfordshire Guardian · 29 Oct, 20:00
• Oxford has lowest food hygiene scores across the countyOxford has the lowest food hygiene scores across the county, with West Oxfordshire scoring the best.Oxford Mail · 29 Oct, 20:00

In this story: Oxford · Oxfordshire · West Oxfordshire · South Oxfordshire · Cherwell District Council · Vale of White Horse District Council · Portsmouth · Cairn Catering Engineers

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