Takeaway delivery service, Just Eat, is to invest £1 million in raising food hygiene and safety standards across the UK takeaway sector.

Under the new programme, Just Eat will work with any restaurant on its platform with an official Food Hygiene Rating of zero, one or two to help them improve their rating. Any zero-rated restaurant which does not improve its score by 1st May will be removed from the Just Eat platform until they do so.

Just Eat's funding will provide a bespoke improvement plan for any restaurant with a rating of two or below, delivered by NSF, the leading global food safety consultants. The package of support will include a one-to-one visit from an expert food safety practitioner, a detailed action plan on how to make any improvements, access to resources and guidance on how to request a re-inspection from their local authority to gain a new FHRS rating. Zero-rated restaurants will also be offered additional follow-up support.

Just Eat already offers food hygiene and safety training to every restaurant that signs up to its platform free of charge.

In addition, any restaurants seeking to sign up to the Just Eat platform from today will be required to have a minimum Food Hygiene Rating of three by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), or be registered and awaiting inspection by the local authority.

Graham Corfield, managing director of Just Eat in the UK, said: "We know that running a small, independent business is not without its challenges, and food hygiene and safety is a vital area that restaurants need to get right.

"This is why we have an ever-evolving programme of work dedicated to raising food safety standards across the entire takeaway sector. The vast majority of the UK's takeaway restaurants have good food hygiene standards already, but today's investment means those that need extra help can now access bespoke support for free."

Heather Hancock, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency said: "I warmly welcome Just Eat's significant new investment in food safety. The company influences thousands of food businesses and reaches millions of customers. Quite rightly, Just Eat is making clear that food safety and hygiene must be a top priority for all their partner businesses. I'm delighted that, from today, all new businesses joining the Just Eat platform must have a food hygiene rating of 3 or more and I strongly encourage Just Eat to apply the 'minimum 3 rating' across their platform as soon as practicable. This clear commitment to consumers - plus financial support from Just Eat for businesses to improve where they aren't up to scratch - is the kind of leadership we expect and I believe it will drive up standards for the benefit of all."