A CAFE on the outskirts of Carisbrooke has been hit with a one-star food hygiene rating, which included a penalty for obstructing an officer.

The outcome of the October inspection of The Garden Cafe at Park Place Farm on Calbourne Road has only just been published but resulted in a 'Major Improvement Necessary' call for its owners.

The rating is being appealed said the cafe's owner as there had been some misunderstandings.

During their visit, Isle of Wight Council environmental health officers found no temperature checks were being made to confirm food, including raw meat, was being cooked to a safe temperature.

There was also no stock rotation and control system in place and some high-risk foods had been allowed a long shelf-life.

These included clotted cream, which had been open for two days too long, and ham, which had a three-day use-by date but was two days past it. The food items were voluntarily disposed of during the visit.

It was also noted by inspectors there was a risk of physical contamination, as trifles in the fridge had not been covered.

No allergen information had been completed or was available to the customer — a legal requirement for certain ingredients.

The general standard of hygiene was reasonable but there were some areas inspectors found that required detailed cleaning, in particular the inside of the microwave.

Temperature records were not available for inspection and the officer was sent from one place to another during their visit trying to find them.

A penalty was also issued for obstructing an officer in the inspection but the incident was redacted in the report, so the extent of the obstruction is unknown.

Waste from the cafe was being put into the domestic waste collection but commercial rubbish must be picked up by a person or organisation licensed to do so.

There was also no evidence of any food hygiene training being completed.

Everything has been resolved, the owners say, and they are now hoping for a five-star rating shortly.