Middle East Supermarket food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Oxford City
Middle East Supermarket holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 16 March 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 138 Oxford Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2DU
How it compares in Oxford City
A 1 is rare: only 12 of 1,381 rated places in Oxford City score this low, about one in 115. By contrast 87% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,206 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 116 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← Middle East Supermarket | |
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 153 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Middle East Supermarket the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Middle East Supermarket, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Living Retailers - other | 242 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 March 2024 |
| Beeyoutiful Cafe Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2024 |
| Best One T/A Wiggleys Corner Shop Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2020 |
| Bunnys Bakery Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2023 |
| Cafe Connect Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Budgens Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 September 2022 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2022 |
| Burger King Drive Thru Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
Questions about Middle East Supermarket
What is Middle East Supermarket's food hygiene rating?
Middle East Supermarket has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Oxford City Council on 16 March 2023.
Is Middle East Supermarket safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Middle East Supermarket last inspected?
Middle East Supermarket was last inspected on 16 March 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Oxford City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Middle East Supermarket?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Middle East Supermarket compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,381 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, while Middle East Supermarket holds a 1. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects Middle East Supermarket and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Middle East Supermarket and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Oxford City, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Oxford City
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Oxford City inspects and rates 1,534 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Oxford City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.oxford.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →