A Southampton food store with a one hygiene rating was ‘dirty with blood’, a report has revealed.

Salam Foods in St Mary’s was handed the new rating following an inspection on July 5.

Inspectors found that food at the St Mary Street store was being stored on the floor of a walk-in chiller.

This posed a risk of contamination to the food.

Further inside the store, the altro-style floor covering in the walk-in chiller was found ‘dirty with blood’ from the hanging carcasses.

Staff were told to thoroughly clean the floor and ensure it remains in a clean condition.

Cleanliness is an issue often cited in the report, seen by the Daily Echo, with several areas of the store described as ‘dirty’.

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Inspectors found that the tiled floor covering in the butchery area was not clean, especially at the floor and wall junctions, and behind equipment.

The floor covering in the butchery area was also dirty.

There was no wash hand basin provided for food handlers working in the food handling/preparation areas.

‘Properly connect the wash hand basin to the drainage system and ensure that everyone understands that it is for hand washing only’, staff were told.

The report continued: “There was no suitable ‘food safe’ disinfectant available for use on the premises.

“The work surfaces and equipment and utensils in the bakery were not being disinfected.

“All surfaces/equipment which comes into contact with food must be disinfected.”

Inspectors also found a gap in the external wall in the store’s dry food storage room.

Staff were told to cover this with a ‘solid, durable material’ to minimise pest entry points into food preparation and storage areas.

In response to issues raised by the Food Standards Agency, director of Salam Foods Namat Sadiqee said: “All the council suggestions are taken into consideration and are being dealt with.”