A CHINESE takeaway in Winsford which has a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ on TripAdvisor, has been slammed by food hygiene inspectors.

Canton Fusions in Wharton Road received a zero out of five food hygiene rating, meaning that ‘urgent improvement’ is needed.

It was also dealt a hygiene improvement notice, which is a legal obligation to make certain changes.

In the hygiene report, sent to the owner of Canton Fusions on December 23 and recently obtained by the Guardian, it was stated that during an inspection, food was being stored on the floor and staff were using the same rubber gloves to clean and wash up that they were to handle food and mix fried rice.

The hygiene improvement notice was issued to fix a broken sink that was meant for washing hands.

Lucy Atherton, lead environmental health practitioner at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said in her report: “It was noted that food handlers use thick black rubber gloves when working in the kitchen. They use these gloves to wash up, clean, handle food as well as mix the egg fried rice mixture.

“I am very concerned that the practices seen during my inspection, together with the lack of staff awareness of food safety systems, indicate a lack of management controls over food operations in your business.

“It was apparent during my inspection that the level of food hygiene awareness among you and your staff was inadequate.”

Other hygiene concerns included cooked meat and rice being stored at room temperature, raw meat being prepared and stored next to cooked food, and dirty cloths, surfaces, food containers and cooking equipment.

Mrs Atherton added: “During the inspection it was noted that cooked meat and rice were being stored at room temperature in the kitchen. These foods are high-risk and will support the growth of food poisoning bacteria and must be kept at or below eight degrees Celsius.

“Raw meat was being prepared and stored next to cooked meat, cooked noodles and cooked rice. This is poor practice as you will contaminate the cooked foods with food poisoning bacteria from the raw meat.”

Cardboard was also being used throughout the kitchen on floors, work surfaces and shelving and Mrs Atherton highlighted that the material ‘cannot be cleaned or disinfected’.

The popular eatery came runner-up in the Guardian readers’ Food and Drink Awards, Chinese and Indian takeaway category and has a 4.5 rating on the customer review website TripAdvisor.

Canton Fusions has not been available for comment.