A TAKEAWAY dogged with poor food hygiene ratings for years has now been rated 'generally satisfactory'.

Happy Taste, in Orchard Street, had been stuck at one star - meaning 'major improvement is necessary' - for more than three years until dropping to the lowest rating possible of zero stars meaning 'urgent improvement is necessary' a year ago.

The Chinese takeaway recovered to a two star rating before a further inspection last October when the venue was lowered back to a one star rating where it has stayed ever since.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) inspectors reinspected the venue on February 23 and in good news for the owners it received three stars.

In a report published on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website this week, inspectors found standards in the three key categories of hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety to all be generally satisfactory.

We contacted the takeway owners but they declined to comment. Last November a spokesperson for Happy Taste told us: "We don't think it is fair we received a one star rating - we should have had at least two stars."

Earlier this year we reported that Helen Cameron, WRS' food hygiene principal officer, had defended the decision not to close the takeaway when it received zero stars, explaining it did not reach WRS requirements to take enforcement action to force it to shut.

Mrs Cameron said: "There are certain standards for closing a premises in our code of practice.

"To close a venue down it has got to be extremely bad. Happy Taste didn't quite meet that category."

Mrs Cameron had also added when a venue is "consistently poor" WRS officers attempt to work with staff over a period of time to help improve the standards, explaining that was the approach they were taking with Happy Taste owners.

The one-star list has been updated and now includes Age UK Worcester and District Lunch Club in Bilford Court, AK General Foods, Lifestyle Express in Kilbury Drive, O Nosso Cafe in London Road and The Fold Cafe, Bransford.

All information published is based on results on the FSA website, food.gov.uk, and is correct as of March 4, 2022, with inspections listed as the latest carried out.