Yeovil's eagerly awaited KFC restaurant achieved an extremely low food hygiene rating weeks after opening, it has been revealed.
The famous fast food chain achieved a 1/5 rating less than two weeks after opening its doors to Yeovil customers.
A score of 'one' means major improvements are necessary to ensure acceptable hygiene standards.
It is the second lowest possible rating available from the Food Standards Agency.
The food safety officer inspecting KFC would have checked how hygienically the food is handled, the condition and cleanliness of the building itself and how the business manages and records procedures to ensure food is safe.
A KFC spokesman said: "Health and hygiene are of the utmost importance to us. We acknowledge that our Yeovil restaurant did not meet our usual high standards on the day of the inspection which was partly due to on-going building works as the restaurant had just opened.
"We are confident that this was an isolated incident, as inspectors were very happy with the store when they visited again two days later.
"We have addressed all of the points in the report and have invited the EHO back for another inspection, when we fully expect to receive a greatly improved score."
Martin Hacker, Communications Officer for South Somerset District Council, commented: "Our officers who do food hygiene inspections inspected the premises a week or two after opening.
"Obviously you can appreciate it was very busy up there for that opening week or so and a number of key hygiene matters had been overlooked during the time of inspection.
"The officer scored the premises 1 out of 5. An officer returned to the premises 24 hours after the initial inspection where things had drastically improved but of course the score would still have to stand from that initial inspection/visit.
"We are very hopeful we will see continued improvement."
Nigel O'Grady, Principal Food Safety Officer for South Somerset District Council, said: "Things have drastically improved since the initial inspection of the restaurant and we hope this will continue."
The National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme was launched in South Somerset last year allowing members of the public to search for local restaurants and view their food ratings.
Yeovil businesses currently with five star ratings include Earls Sandwiches on Silver Street, Yeovil's Burger King on Middle Street, and the Tamburino Restaurant on South Western Terrace.
No local businesses have received a zero star rating as of yet, however local businesses with one star ratings include Bunters sandwich delivery service on Great Western Terrace and The Globe and Crown on South Street.
Click here to visit the Food Standards Agency website and check other local food ratings.
The famous fast food chain achieved a 1/5 rating less than two weeks after opening its doors to Yeovil customers.
A score of 'one' means major improvements are necessary to ensure acceptable hygiene standards.
It is the second lowest possible rating available from the Food Standards Agency.
The food safety officer inspecting KFC would have checked how hygienically the food is handled, the condition and cleanliness of the building itself and how the business manages and records procedures to ensure food is safe.
A KFC spokesman said: "Health and hygiene are of the utmost importance to us. We acknowledge that our Yeovil restaurant did not meet our usual high standards on the day of the inspection which was partly due to on-going building works as the restaurant had just opened.
"We are confident that this was an isolated incident, as inspectors were very happy with the store when they visited again two days later.
"We have addressed all of the points in the report and have invited the EHO back for another inspection, when we fully expect to receive a greatly improved score."
Martin Hacker, Communications Officer for South Somerset District Council, commented: "Our officers who do food hygiene inspections inspected the premises a week or two after opening.
"Obviously you can appreciate it was very busy up there for that opening week or so and a number of key hygiene matters had been overlooked during the time of inspection.
"The officer scored the premises 1 out of 5. An officer returned to the premises 24 hours after the initial inspection where things had drastically improved but of course the score would still have to stand from that initial inspection/visit.
"We are very hopeful we will see continued improvement."
Nigel O'Grady, Principal Food Safety Officer for South Somerset District Council, said: "Things have drastically improved since the initial inspection of the restaurant and we hope this will continue."
The National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme was launched in South Somerset last year allowing members of the public to search for local restaurants and view their food ratings.
Yeovil businesses currently with five star ratings include Earls Sandwiches on Silver Street, Yeovil's Burger King on Middle Street, and the Tamburino Restaurant on South Western Terrace.
No local businesses have received a zero star rating as of yet, however local businesses with one star ratings include Bunters sandwich delivery service on Great Western Terrace and The Globe and Crown on South Street.
Click here to visit the Food Standards Agency website and check other local food ratings.
