Research by High Speed Training, using official Food Standards Agency inspection data, ranked Swindon sixth among local authority areas in the region with an average food hygiene score of 4.62 out of five.
The borough’s average rating has fallen from 4.74 over the past year, the largest decline recorded anywhere in the South West.
The report also shows Swindon dropping three places in the regional rankings, from third to sixth. Wells now tops the table with an average rating of 4.82.
Despite the fall, the vast majority of food businesses across Swindon continue to achieve the highest hygiene standards.
Food Standards Agency data shows there are more than 1,600 registered food establishments in the borough. Around 79% currently hold the highest possible five-star food hygiene rating, while only a small number have ratings of two stars or below.
Food hygiene ratings are awarded by environmental health officers following unannounced inspections. Businesses are assessed on how food is handled, the cleanliness and condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
Ratings range from zero, where urgent improvement is required, to five, which indicates very good hygiene standards.
Across the South West, the study found an average food hygiene score of 4.67, making it one of the highest-performing regions in England. More than 20,900 food premises were included in the analysis.
Although Swindon’s average score has declined compared with last year, the borough remains among the region’s stronger-performing areas, with most restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways and shops continuing to achieve four or five-star ratings.
The latest food hygiene ratings for individual businesses can be viewed on the Food Standards Agency’s online database.
