A CAFE has been given the lowest food hygiene rating due to issues around food safety and handling.

Mabel's Cafe in Boldre, New Forest, was awarded a zero-out-of-five hygiene rating by the Food Standards Agency.

The cafe, based at Shallowmead Nurseries on Boldre Lane, was told that major improvement was necessary, in the report that was recently published.

Inspectors found that "major improvement" is needed in the hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

"Major improvement" is also needed in food safety, the report says. 

The website says this includes ensuring a system or check is in place to guarantee that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.

The report also says that "improvement is necessary" in the cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building.

The cafe was inspected on November 26 and the report is publicly available on the Food Standards Agency website.

It previously held a five-out-of-five hygiene rating.

The Daily Echo has contacted Mabel's Cafe and is waiting for a response.

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