Hertsmere is the borough with the most unsatisfactory food hygiene scores.

Environmental health consultants Encentre found the borough had the highest proportion of food premises in their region with unsatisfactory food hygiene scores, those presenting the highest risk to consumers.

Hertsmere had almost 100 food businesses that were non-compliant meaning they do not display the most recent food hygiene inspection results.

READ MORE: Restaurants and takeaways with zero hygiene ratings in south west Hertfordshire.

Michael Eade, of Encentre, said: "It is important local authorities keep a constant eye on their data and benchmark against other councils so they can target the worst offenders and protect the public.

"This is becoming even more important now there are fewer environmental health officers employed by local authorities to carry out checks."

The Food Standards Agency inspect and rate a premise from five to zero; the lowest score being awarded to those who are considered to require urgent improvement.

Hertsmere was followed by Luton and Southend-on-Sea who also have high concentrations of food outlets with ratings that are considered to require improvement.

According to the data the best areas in the region (made up of 47 local authority areas) were Suffolk Coastal, Brentwood and South Cambridgeshire.

Encentre analyses food authority data every month in order to help local authorities plan inspections and food safety enforcement activity more effectively.

Hertsmere Borough Councillor Seamus Quilty said: "Our food safety inspectors aim to support businesses across the borough so they can all achieve the highest level 5 rating in food safety standards.

“We are, of course, concerned that some of Hertsmere’s restaurants, cafes, pubs and other food outlets are not performing as well as they should be.

“We run regular, value-for-money training courses on key aspects of food safety and encourage all outlets to take part.

"In addition, officers provide extensive advice during inspections and afterwards.

“However, we will take appropriate, robust enforcement action where businesses are non-compliant.

"That said, the responsibility for compliance rests with businesses. Hence why, we advise consumers to always check the food safety rating.”