THE Food Standards Agency have published a list of the lowest scored pubs, cafes, butchers and restaurants in Winchester.

A food safety officer from the local authority inspects a business to check that it follows food hygiene law so that the food is safe to eat or that the premises is up to agency standards.

The Food Standards Agency carries out inspections and rates the observed hygiene standards on a scale from zero to five.

Inspectors check the following criteria:

How hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored

The condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, and other facilities

How the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future.

What do the numbers mean?

Zero – Urgent improvement necessary;

One – Major improvements necessary;

Two – Improvements necessary;

Three – Generally Satisfactory;

Four – Good on assessment;

Five – Seen as very good.

Below are the Winchester district eateries that received the lowest food hygiene ratings:

Gurkhas Inn, City Road, Winchester - Rating: 1

Jumbo R2 Chinese Takeaway & Restaurant, Houchin Street, Bishop's Waltham - Rating: 1

Owton's @ Garsons, Fontley Road, Titchfield - Rating: 1

Shapla Restaurant, West Street, Alresford - Rating: 1