TV Chefs Blasted Over Kitchen Hygiene

GORDON Ramsay and Anthony Worrall Thompson have been criticised by health chiefs over the cleanliness of their restaurant kitchens.

Ramsay`s Michelin-starred restaurant in Chelsea and Worrall Thompson`s Notting Grill in West London fell foul of health inspectors on recent visits.

The criticism from Kensington and Chelsea Council will be particularly embarrassing for Ramsay, who often raps other chef over the state off their kitchens on his TV show Kitchen Nightmares.

Inspectors at Ramsay`s Chelsea joint noted in September 2006: "Wash basins should only be used for washing hands.

"Staff were observed rinsing cleaning cloths in one."

In 2005, an inspector at the same restaurant discovered broken tiles, which can collect scraps, split door seals and cleaning materials stored next to food.

Ramsay was also ordered to "thoroughly clean" his freezer.

Worrall Thompson fared equally badly. At his Notting Grill restaurant last December an inspector noted that food was "at risk of contamination" in the wash-up room because it was "stored next to and below chemicals", or was "cooling near wash-up sinks and the dishwasher".

The inspectors also found a that a fan used to cool food was "not clean and disinfected".

Worrall Thompson caused something of a storm in 2000 after claiming that the obsession with cleaning surfaces would lead to people having a weakened resistance to bugs, although he added: "That`s not to say my restaurants are not absolutely clean."

When questioned over the health inspector`s comments, Worrall Thompson said: "On the risk of contamination thing, it was a one-off.

"It was wrong that the food had been left there to cool but, really, you go into any restaurant on any day of the week and you will probably find something to pick at.

"But I am all in favour of anything that helps keep kitchens hygienic."

Gordon Ramsay`s spokesman refused to comment on the issue.