The majority of local authorities are meeting targets for inspecting high-risk food businesses, including restaurants and take-away food shops, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced.
Of 499 local authorities, 20 failed to achieve the minimum required number of inspections.
David Statham, director of enforcement and food standards at the FSA, praised local authorities. "Many local authorities are going significantly beyond the minimum requirements," he said, "despite the fact that 2001 was a difficult year, with resources stretched by foot-and-mouth."
But he added there was no room for complacency, and the FSA is now considering raising its target by 5% every year.
Environmental health officers gave a full inspection to a total of 414,599 businesses in 2001. This figure was up by 7% on the previous year.
But the total number of inspections and other visits fell by 6% to 696,353, and the rate of food sampling to check quality and safety standards fell by 8%.
Authorities blamed foot-and-mouth, IT problems or staff shortages for not meeting targets.