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Manchester United have had their food hygiene rating slashed from five to one after guests were served raw chicken at a corporate event.
The club now requires ‘major improvement’ according to the Food Standards Agency. United are set to appeal the downgrade.
Mail Sport understands that those who were affected were guests who attended the Safety Health Environment Show, which was held at Old Trafford on November 21.
The food in question is believed to have been chicken thighs.
After those involved complained, Trafford Council launched an investigation. And, following its conclusion, they have been moved to act.
The exhibition features workshops on six key elements including behaviour, adversity and climate change and sustainability. Each event is said to attract between 200 and 250 delegates.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: ‘We can confirm that the hygiene rating for Old Trafford (Manchester United) has been downgraded from five to one.
‘This follows a food hygiene investigation following an incident where undercooked food was served at an event on 21 November.’
United are known to be surprised by the development having given what they felt was a strong response to council officials.
In a statement to Mail Sport, a United spokesperson said: ‘Manchester United has one of the largest and most experienced food and beverage operations in world sport, with more than 250,000 people dining at the stadium restaurants and over 300 external events successfully delivered each year.
‘Every matchday, the catering is enjoyed by over 8,000 people, served by 28 kitchens across the stadium, and the club is proud of the high standards and the 5-star food hygiene record which had been awarded to us for the past eight years.
‘This was an isolated incident, and the point of failure was identified and addressed. Everyone at the club is determined to regain our 5-star food hygiene status as quickly as possible.
‘To support that objective, we are conducting an independent food audit to identify any further opportunities for improvement.’
United had previously had a food hygiene rating of five for Old Trafford, which is determined to be ‘very good’.
At the time of the recent inspection, which took place on November 23, 2023, the government’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) determined that:
- Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage (improvement necessary)
- Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene (good)
- System or checks in place to ensure 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 (major improvement necessary
The FSA is a government department that is responsible for food safety and preparation, that aims to protect members of the public from health risks associated with the consumption of food.
They deliver ratings out of five, with one being the lowest, to catering businesses throughout the United Kingdom following an inspection that takes into account how organisations handle, store, prepare and cooked.
In serious cases, the agency has the powers to close a business and stop it from trading.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
