Five star hygiene ratings have been awarded to 36 premises that serve food across Slough.

The ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection by the council’s food safety team and cover everything from the handling of food to how it is stored, prepared and managed.

The cleanliness of facilities also plays a vital role in the resulting ratings.

The hygiene standards are then rated on a scale. Five is top of the scale, this means the hygiene standards are very good and fully comply with the law. Zero is at the bottom of the scale, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. A food hygiene sticker with the awarded rating can then be displayed in the premises and linked to their website.

The 36 businesses newly awarded five stars join more than 300 food establishments in the borough that already have a hygiene rating of five.

Cllr Pavitar K Mann, Slough Council's cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “I am pleased that so many premises have been awarded with a food hygiene rating of five.

“We know that food hygiene standards are important to our residents. Food hygiene standards are assessed by the council’s food and safety team in conjunction with the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, to show how hygienic and safe premises that serve food are.

“The ratings can help give the public confidence about the places they choose to buy and consume cooked food from.

“I congratulate those premises that have received a rating of five and urge any other businesses who wish to improve their ratings to make full use of the specialist advice and guidance available to them.”