A Salisbury takeaway has been given a food hygiene rating of zero out of five – but the manager is adamant that changes are being made. 

Chick-o-land in New Canal has received the lowest possible score by the Food Standards Agency following an inspection on February 24. 

According to the public body, major improvements are needed when it comes to handling food. This includes preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage. 

The cleanliness and condition of the facilities also requires improvement. This includes ventilation, appropriate layout, hand washing facilities and pest control. 

Similar comments were made for the management of food safety which includes the system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety and confidence that standards will be maintained in the future. 

Veysel Ketenemen, the manager of Chick-o-land, stressed changes are being made. 

He said: “We have four weeks to complete the refurbishment and the food hygiene officers will then come back and re-check.” 

Official food hygiene inspections consider various aspects of cleanliness to ensure best practice. This is important to ensure no cross-contamination occurs and that hygiene is sufficient. 

The rating reflects the standards of food hygiene on the date of the inspection, but it is not a guide to the quality of food. 

Food hygiene must be considered a priority for any restaurant or takeaway as it safeguards the health of customers. It should always be considered an essential part of food preparation. 

When a poor rating is given, it can lead to fines. Some businesses close as a result though this is not a legal requirement.  

Chick-O-land is still open for business.  

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