About 100,000 people reported illness last year, but it is believed that up to 1.3 million consumers could have been affected.The investigation was also prompted by a report by Which? into hygiene standards at restaurants in 2001, and a concern that food poisoning was increasing because of a lack of legal requirements for food hygiene training.For the report released today, Which? inspectors accompanied environmental health officers to 12 outlets selling fast food in London, Manchester and North Lanarkshire. They found a complete absence of staff training in hygiene matters in four outlets. In many others, hygiene rules were ignored.A kebab shop in Manchester was singled out because dead cockroaches littered the kitchen floor. They had been exterminated by pest control workers two weeks earlier.Inspectors visiting a Chinese takeaway in London found raw meat and fish stored next to salad, increasing the chances of cross-contamination. In the same establishment, disinfectants were stored near vegetables. Inspectors added that food containers were “disgustingly dirty”.There was also widespread ignorance about the temperature regulations in the Food Safety Act, which requires food to be chilled below 8C to minimise bacterial growth and for food to be heated to at least 75C before serving to kill off bacteria. The report found one kebab shop risked creating food “teeming” with germs by leaving meat on a spit, unheated, overnight while a Chinese takeway left cooked ducks to cool for too long.The Consumers’ Association has called for more stringent implementation of current laws.

It claims checks are seldom made on staff training in hygiene issues and a shortage of environmental health officers means they are unable to visit new outlets prior to opening.A spokesman for the FSA, which last year launched a five-year food hygiene campaign, said: “The conditions in the premises highlighted in this report clearly broke hygiene regulations and swift action needs to be taken by the local authorities to address the problem of poor inadequate food hygiene.”‘Prior approval’ is just one of the measures the agency is considering in the light of on-going experience and feedback as part of the food hygiene campaign. But getting caterers to understand the importance of good food hygiene and raising standards in the industry remains the priority.” Fast Food Nation* The takeaway industry was born in 1863, when the first fish and chip shop opened in Mossley, near Oldham.* The first McDonald’s outlet in Britain opened in Woolwich, south-east London, in 1974. The 1,000th outlet opened at the Millennium Dome.* The fast-food market was worth an estimated £2.5bn last year, according to the market analysts Mintel.* Ethnic food is the largest sector, with a 40 per cent share of the market, worth £1.5bn last year. The Indian food industry alone employs 60,000 staff, and was responsible for the creation of what has become Britain’s favourite dish, chicken tikka masala.* Of the top ten best-selling Indian takeaway dishes, only one does not have chicken as the main ingredient. Lamb pasanda, a north Indian dish with a rich cream sauce, is the nation’s ninth favourite, accounting for 3.5 per cent of sales. Chicken tikka masala tops the list with 14.2 per cent.* Sandwiches are a growing part of the fast-food market.

The Subway chain, which has more franchises in the US than McDonald’s, plans to open 2,000 outlets in the UK. * A survey by Mintel in 2002 found that 86 per cent of those who took part had eaten takeaway food in the previous three months. The most frequently visited takeaways were fish and chip shops, Chinese and Indian takeaways, and burger bars.Inspections of takeaways by environmental health officers in 2001 found that 41 per cent failed to comply with food law However, only 0.5 per cent were prosecuted.. A few weeks ago, Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders and living monument to rock’s glorious heritage, was thrown out of a pub.

She had run into Paul Weller, and they and a group of friends had spent the evening together singing old soul songs. “They were kind enough to stay open late for us, and I allegedly said something that offended the bar staff,” Hynde thunders “So they asked me to leave.” I’m impressed, I say. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t impressed with Paul Weller, who didn’t stand up and defend me. He wanted to stay for another, so he just said, ‘Cheers, mate, see you later,’ as I was being pushed out the door.”

A few weeks ago, Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders and living monument to rock’s glorious heritage, was thrown out of a pub. Her conversation is laden with attitude, her vocabulary spiked with swear words Every time she speaks, the furniture seems to rattle And when she warms to a theme, there’s no stopping her. Here’s what I get when I ask if she follows what young bands are doing: “You know what? I don’t give a fuck I’m not 18 any more, and I don’t live for music.