A chicken shop in High Wycombe has been handed the second lowest food hygiene rating possible.

Roosters Piri Piri on Oxford Street was given a one-out-of-five food hygiene rating following an unannounced inspection on Wednesday, May 8.

Although the inspector judged the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building to be ‘generally satisfactory’, improvement was deemed necessary to hygienic food handling practices and the management of food safety.

The ratings, which vary from zero, indicating that ‘urgent’ improvement is needed, to five, indicating that the business is ‘very good’ are a crucial way for customers to stay informed when deciding where to eat in their local area.

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They act as a benchmark for food quality and safety, with a low rating often implying an increased risk of foodborne illnesses.

Roosters Piri Piri has an average Google rating of 3.5 stars, with a number of recent customers praising the shop’s “perfectly cooked and delicious” chicken and “lovely service”.

Its new rating means it is among 0.5 per cent of local businesses with a one-star rating, with a majority of 68 per cent receiving five-out-of-five scores at their most recent inspection.