REVEALED: Britain’s dirtiest nurseries named and shamed – check out our map to see if yours is on the shamed list

More than 70 nurseries in England and Wales have failed hygiene inspections in the past two years, a MailOnline investigation has found.

Damaged kitchens, no hot running water and unsanitary conditions were just some of the reasons why businesses caring for young children were branded unsatisfactory by health chiefs – putting properties at risk of closure.

According to analysis of data collected by the Food Standards Authority (FSA), some areas found there were a higher number of farms being beaten by hand due to poor hygiene.

For example, three nurseries in Waltham Forest, east London, have scored zero out of five – the lowest possible rank putting them at risk of imminent closure.

The FSA carries out regular hygiene inspections of childcare facilities in the UK every six months to two years, with each business given a score out of five.

A score of two or lower is considered unsatisfactory, meaning the property fails the inspection.

About 23 companies received a score of one out of five, while 47 companies received a score of two out of five.

Properties rated zero are considered to require ‘urgent improvement’, one ‘major improvement’ and two ‘some improvement’.

MailOnline today named and shamed all 73 nurseries that failed inspection in our interactive map.

Simply move your mouse over the colored dots to see if there is a daycare center near you with lapsed hygiene standards.

The data, which is updated every 28 days by local authorities, is collected via the FSA website and is accurate as of November 12, 2024.

These ratings are given not just to nurseries, but to any business that supplies or sells food, including pubs and cafes, as well as supermarkets, schools and care homes.

Hygiene inspectors employed by councils visit these premises every six months to two years, with places that have been discounted and considered ‘high risk’ being visited more frequently.

Inspectors check how food is prepared and cooked, and assess the physical condition of the kitchen.

In addition, the management of the kitchens is also taken into account, such as completing paperwork and providing training to the staff.

However, details of hygiene deficiencies are not available online as municipalities publish only vague information about inspectors’ findings.

There are around 12,909 nurseries in England and 368 in Wales, while the majority are considered to meet hygiene standards – 73 have failed inspection, MailOnline can reveal (file image)

However, information obtained from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that one nursery was rated one out of five for ‘worn cupboards’, ‘damaged food containers’, ‘dust behind the tumble dryer’ and using the wrong cleaning products.

Another nursery suffered a ‘broken sink’, meaning staff and children had no hot running water to wash their hands, another FOI revealed.

Such cases are monitored during follow-up visits and in some cases companies are told to resolve the problem within 24 hours.

Companies that score two or less can book a retest once they have addressed the issues in the initial report.

In the most serious cases, officers may close a business until improvements are made and may also recommend that a business be prosecuted for breaching food standards.

While businesses in Wales are legally required to display their reviews in the window, this does not apply in England.

Concerns have been raised as council budget cuts have led to a reduction in the number of inspections.

Over the past decade, the number of food standards inspectors employed by municipalities has fallen by 45 percent.

The FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) warned that staff shortages and cuts are putting ‘unsustainable pressure on existing local government teams and could increase the risk that important food safety issues are overlooked’.

The joint statement warned that many of those working for local government food safety teams are approaching retirement age.

Both the FSA and FSS warned: ‘Our concern is that this reduced ability to assess the authenticity, labeling and compliance of allergens could compromise food standards in the future.

‘Without enough people with the right skills to carry out essential food checks, it will be more difficult to identify, monitor and respond to food safety risks, leaving consumers and businesses vulnerable.’