FOOD outlets in parts of Bexley dominate a list of those with the worst hygiene standards across the country, according to a new report.

Following a Which? investigation of more than 2,000 postcodes, Bexley had six of the 10 worst.

The worst postcode area included in Bexley is DA7, which covers Barnehurst and parts of Bexleyheath.

Of the 85 outlets in the DA7 area, 45 per cent were rated less than ‘generally satisfactory.’

These include Bexleyheath-based Shahi Spice, in The Pantiles and Chinese takeaway Chan in Barnehurst Road, which both received the lowest rating of zero, meaning ‘urgent improvement’ is necessary.

Onamika in Erith Road and My Plaice Fish Bar in Mayplace Road East were among the 20 outlets that have been told ‘major improvement’ is required, having received a rating of one.

Food outlets in the B35 postcode in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, offered the best hygiene standards according to the report.

Which? looked at Food Standards Agency hygiene ratings in postcodes across the UK from January 2011 to March this year, finding wide variations between different areas.

Pizza Hut, Bexley Road, Erith, DA8

News Shopper reported in January how items removed from the dishwasher at Pizza Hut in Erith were so dirty they were considered to be a health hazard.

A Bexley Council inspector found a further 16 areas and items inside the takeaway, in Bexley Road, to be unclean and at risk of contaminating food.

These included items used in the production of almost every pizza such as the pizza oven, the equipment tubs, the vegetable slicer and the fridges and freezers.

Even the telephone was so dirty it was considered to be a risk.

Indeed, the DA8 postcode area in which this takeaway lies was one of the six from Bexley in the ten worst across the country.

Of the 78 premises rated, 45 per cent scored a rating of less than three, which is ‘generally satisfactory.

Percentage of outlets rated less than ‘generally satisfactory’

DA5 - Bexley Village: 38 per cent of 56 outlets
DA7 - Barnehurst and parts of Bexleyheath: 45 per cent of 66 outlets
DA8 - Erith: 45 per cent of 78 outlets
DA15 - Sidcup: 45 per cent of 65 outlets
DA16 - Welling: 39 per cent of 85 outlets
DA17 - Belvedere: 48 per cent of 57 outlets