One in every five eateries in the UK doesn’t meet food hygiene standards, Which? analysis of food safety enforcement data reveals.

In the worst local authority, two out of three food establishments could be putting you at risk of food poisoning.

Food hygiene compliance is patchy and varies hugely across the UK, and although it is ultimately the business’ responsibility to comply with hygiene laws, some local authorities are struggling to enforce standards.

We’ve put together an interactive map so you can check whether your local authority is making sure that its food establishments comply with food hygiene law.

Best local authorities for food hygiene

Erewash, in Derbyshire, tops our table as the local authority with the best food hygiene enforcement stats, followed by Eden in Cumbria and Brentwood in Essex.

The table below shows the 10 highest-ranking local authorities for food hygiene enforcement, out of 386 local authorities analysed.

Rank	Local Authority
1	Erewash
2	Eden
3	Brentwood
4	West Dorset
5	Sunderland
6	Basingstoke and Deane
7	Orkney Islands
8	North Dorset
9	North Devon
10	Hartlepool

Worst local authorities for food hygiene

At the bottom end of the table, Hyndburn in Lancashire has the lowest ranking. Only one third of eateries in Hyndburn that were high-risk or medium-risk actually met hygiene standards.

The hygiene risk of a business is based on several factors, including type of food, the number/type of consumers at risk, method of processing or handling food and confidence in the management.

Birmingham was second from bottom, with only 59% of medium- to high-risk businesses found to be broadly compliant with hygiene rules.

Birmingham City Council told us that it is not responsible for a third party complying with the law, but that it is responsible for enforcing the law where failures are found.

Cities with lots of food businesses can struggle to keep up with food hygiene enforcement because of the high turnover of places to eat.

The table below shows the 10 lowest-ranking local authorities for food hygiene in the UK.

Rank	Local Authority
386	Hyndburn
385	Birmingham
384	Newham
383	Ealing
382	Lewisham
381	Camden
380	Bristol (city)
379	Edinburgh
378	Isles of Scilly
377	Manchester

How we ranked local authorities

We assessed data submitted to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland by 386 UK local authorities in 2015-16.

We then ranked those local authority areas based on three indicators: how many food establishments were rated for risk, how many of the medium and high-risk premises met hygiene requirements, and how many planned interventions (such as inspections or follow up actions) were actually carried out.

For more on how we collected this information, and our recommendations for food standards in the UK, see our full report on food law enforcement.

Food safety in the UK

Budget cuts at local authorities, complicated international food supply chains and an increase in food crime can make it more difficult to enforce good food hygiene.

Leaving the EU is likely to mean that the UK will have to conduct more of its own safety checks on imported food, which will require more resources and a new approach to food standards checking.

The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland are currently reviewing their food enforcement strategies.

We are concerned, though, that the proposed reforms could see more inspections carried out by third-party companies employed by businesses, instead of the checks being done by public authorities.

We think it’s more important than ever that food safety is independently assessed.

Alex Neill, Which? Managing Director of Home Services, said: “People expect their food to be safe, but there is clearly still work to be done.

“As we prepare to leave the EU, the government and regulators need to ensure that there is a robust, independent system of enforcement in place ​​to give people ​confidence that ​the food they’re eating is hygienic.”

This month marks 45 years since we first started testing mattresses. Beds have changed a lot in the 16,400 or so nights that have passed since, but our commitment to uncovering the mattresses that bring you the best possible night’s sleep certainly hasn’t.

In March 1972, we tested 23 mattresses from nine different brands, including Dunlopillo, Silentnight and Sleepeezee. Fast-forward to 2017, and we now have mattress reviews covering 25 brands, with hundreds of mattresses having gone through our tough tests in the intervening years.

Read on to find out what’s changed since 1972, or head to our mattress reviews where we pick out the best that 2017 has to offer.

A good mattress costs less

Our advice 45 years ago was: ‘Don’t spend less than £70 for a double if you want to be sure of its lasting for more than about 10 years.’

That would have been almost £850 in 2016, according to the Bank of England’s inflation calculator. That’s a lot to spend on a mattress, with around two thirds of the 5,001 Which? members we surveyed last year spending less on their last mattress.

And who can blame them? Spending more than £850 is no longer a guarantee of durability. One of the most expensive mattresses we’ve ever reviewed developed a large tear during our durability test, leading us to label it a Don’t Buy.

Nowadays, you needn’t spend more than £250 to get a Best Buy mattress that will stand the test of time.

Pocket-sprung and memory-foam mattresses

The average spring count of the 20 spring mattresses we tested in 1972 was 350; today, pocket-sprung mattresses often contain more than 1,000 individual springs.

We only tested three foam mattresses, all made by Dunlopillo, because ‘fewer than one in 10’ mattresses sold in the UK at the time were foam.

Since then, memory-foam mattresses have become much more widely available and more affordable. So, it’s no surprise that more than a third of Which? members owned a mattress containing foam in 2016.

As well as measuring how warm mattresses are to lie on, we’ve also developed stability and breathability tests to help you choose the best type of mattress.

Top beds for back support

Our final piece of advice in our first ever mattresses article was: ‘Don’t be impressed by fancy claims.’

Our mattress testing has come on leaps and bounds since 1972, but that advice remains as true today as it was then.

Using technology that was unavailable to us 45 years ago, we now test every mattress for body support. Whether you’re big or small and sleep on your back or side, our body support tests tell us how well each mattress will support your spine.

If you sleep on you back, the mattress should keep your spine in the same shape as when standing. If you’re a side-sleeper, your spine should be almost parallel to the bed. The best mattresses do both and, after years of use, will still be as supportive as when new.

Our mattress reviews guide shoppers to the mattresses that will give your spine the support it needs. Don’t be fooled by fancy terms such as ‘orthopaedic’: the use of such terms is not restricted and is therefore no guarantee of good back support.

For more on finding the best bed for you, don’t miss our guide to choosing the best mattress.

Energy price rises aplenty are coming into force, but exclusive Which? research has found that you could turn back the clock on your energy bills to 2008 prices, cutting your bill by 22%.

Millions of customers with British Gas, Eon, EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE on their standard energy deals are overpaying for energy. The average annual cost of a dual-fuel deal with a Big Six supplier will be £1,131 after all of their price rises have taken effect. But the cheapest energy deal on the market costs just £839 per year.

Scroll down to see the 10 cheapest energy deals available now.

Fed up with paying too much for energy? You can find a cheaper gas and electricity deal now with our independent energy comparison site Which? Switch.

Energy price rises

Five of the Big Six energy firms, excluding British Gas, have either already raised their prices or will do so during April. Smaller firms, including Co-operative Energy, First Utility, Ovo Energy and Utilita, have also announced price hikes.

Most recently, not-for-profit energy firm Robin Hood Energy said it will increase prices by 17% for dual-fuel customers on its standard tariff from 22 April.

The government is considering the possibility of introducing an energy price cap, to protect vulnerable customers overpaying the most – although nothing definitive has been announced. Customers with prepayment meters will see a price cap come into force from 1 April.

Which? Managing Director of Home Products and Services, Alex Neill, said: ‘Far too many people are still stuck on some of the most expensive deals. With five of the Big Six set to increase their prices, consumers could save £250 a year by switching to a cheaper deal now.

‘With speculation rife that the Government may introduce a price cap, it is vital the regulator ensures that any price control makes a real difference for people struggling with their bills.’

Ten cheapest energy tariffs on 25 March 2017

Energy firm	Tariff name	Tariff type	Annual cost
Iresa	Flex4 12month Fixed Direct Debit	Fixed	£839
Economy Energy	Direct Saver 2017	Fixed	£843
Avro Energy	Simple and Bright	Fixed	£871
Tonik Energy	Positive Energy	Fixed	£880
So Energy	So Hippo	Fixed	£880
Toto Energy	Go with the flow – direct debit	Variable	£885
Affect Energy	Fixed Until March 2018	Fixed	£896
Bristol Energy	Britsol Energy 1 Year Fix	Fixed	£906
iSupply Energy	iFix 12	Fixed	£907
Octopus Energy	Octopus 12M Fixed	Fixed	£907

What you need to know about standard gas and electricity deals

Standard energy tariffs, also called variable tariffs, are an energy supplier’s default tariff. If your fixed energy deal comes to an end, you’re out of contract and you’ll automatically be transferred onto a standard tariff, unless you take action and switch to another fixed deal.

Standard tariffs are often your energy company’s priciest tariff. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your energy deal and switch before you roll onto a standard tariff.

Which? research has discovered that switching from a pricey standard tariff to one of the cheapest on the market could help you turn back time on your energy bills.

[Pricing data from Energylinx, correct at 25 March 2017. Prices are based on typical medium household use (12,500kWh gas and 3,100kWh electricity per year), paying by monthly direct debit. Prices are averaged across all regions. Only tariffs available UK-wide are included.]

In 2008, gas prices were 25% lower and electricity prices were 23% lower than in February 2017, according to the official measure of UK inflation (CPIH).

The Vax Blade 32V Pro cordless vacuum cleaner is a follow up to the popular Vax Cordless Slimvac, which was the first Vax model to adopt a Dyson-style stick design. Vax claims that it’s ideal for floor-to-ceiling cleaning, so you can tackle everything from crumbs to cobwebs. We took it for a spin to bring you our first impressions.

The most striking difference you’ll notice with this vacuum is the dust container, which has been flipped on its side, creating ‘a direct air path from floorhead to cyclone’. This is claimed to improve its cleaning abilities, which Vax says are comparable to a plug-in vacuum.

The Blade follows the general trend in cordless vacuums to align more closely with the Dyson-led design of a small vacuum body with interchangeable handheld and floor-cleaning accessories.

It’s launch price was £300, but we’ve seen it on offer for £180, which makes it cheaper than some big-name rivals.

Read the full Vax Blade 32V Pro first look review to find out what we thought of this vacuum cleaner.

Vax Blade 32V Pro vs Dyson cordless vacs

The Vax Blade cordless aims to stand out in a crowded market with its ‘direct helix technology’. This redesigned airflow system is meant to optimise suction power, whatever angle you’re cleaning at. The longer handle on the front is also intended to help you comfortably switch between different cleaning positions.

The claimed 45-minute runtime is pretty good compared with Dyson cordless models. It should give you enough time to get around the house, provided you don’t overdo it in Boost mode (which drains the battery more quickly). There is also a ‘smart control’ dial that lights up to let you know how much charge you have left and whether the Boost mode or brush bar are activated.

If you buy it on offer, it’s a relatively affordable price for a cordless vacuum cleaner, comparable to entry-level Dyson models such as the Dyson V6. There is also a cheaper version available – the Vax Blade 24V. This has a shorter 35-minute runtime and costs around £30 less than the 32V version. We’ll get our full lab results back for the Vax Blade Pro in June.

If you simply want a tried-and-tested cordless model, head to our round-up of the best cordless vacuum cleaners to see the models we recommend.

Cordless vacuum cleaners reviewed for 2017

We have fully lab-tested reviews of all of the major players in the cordless vacuum cleaner market, including Bosch Athlet models, the Dyson cordless range, Gtech Air Ram vacuums, and cordless options from floorcare heavyweights Hoover and Vax.

The best are almost as good as our top plug-in vacuum cleaners, but we’ve also encountered plenty of cordless vacuum cleaners that are truly terrible at cleaning, particularly for tougher tasks such as sucking up pet hair and cleaning carpets.

If you’re keen to go cordless, make sure you get a vacuum cleaner that will help rather than hinder you by checking our cordless vacuum cleaner reviews.

Thinking of buying an Oral-B Genius 9000 smart electric toothbrush? See how it compares to smartphone-compatible rival the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected.

Smart electric toothbrushes are on the rise, with new innovations emerging all the time. The ‘artificial intelligence’ Kolibree Ara is set to launch later this year and there are whispers of Dyson working on a sensor-laden electric toothbrush capable of irrigating between teeth with timed jets of water. But what will these new smart electric toothbrushes be up against when they enter the market?

The Oral-B Genius 9000 and Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected both launched last year. Where they differ from other smart electric toothbrushes is that their respective apps allow you to see a detailed visual representation of your mouth as you brush, so you can see which teeth are in need of more attention.

Oral-B Genius 9000 compared

While the apps for each brush are similar, there are some other key differences between the two.

The Genius 9000 comes with four different brush heads – CrossAction, FlossAction, 3D White and Sensitive – while the Philips Sonicare Platinum Connected has just the one. More brush heads mean a wider range of tailored brushing options, plus a little extra time before having to buy – often expensive – replacements.

The Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected has three brushing modes – Clean, White and Deep Clean. Each offers something slightly different depending on the level of cleaning you’re after. Oral-B’s Genius 9000 has six brushing modes, which include Gum Care and Tongue Clean options.

While both brushes come with a useful travel case, Oral-B’s can be used to charge your toothbrush and smartphone at the same time. That’s a useful addition that will save you bringing at least one less thing on holiday.

But only the Philips Sonicare comes with a UV Sanitiser. Philips claims its ‘UV clean technology helps kill germs on your brush head’. This is a reassuring accompaniment for a product that goes directly into the mouth and often spends time in relatively close proximity to flushing toilets.

But, ultimately, a toothbrush lives and dies by its ability to clean teeth. Check out our Oral-B Genius 9000 review and Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected first look to find out how they compare.

Are smart electric toothbrushes worth it?

Of all the electric toothbrushes we’ve tested, there are currently 12 we’ve rated highly enough to be crowned Which? Best Buy electric toothbrushes. This means they excel at removing plaque and have long-lasting batteries that are usually quick to recharge. During our last round of testing, we took more than 2,000 plaque readings to reach our conclusions about the electric toothbrushes we reviewed.

Paying extra for a smartphone-compatible toothbrush is only a smart move if you’re sure you’ll get the most out of the app. They can help make sure you stick to the dentist-recommended, two-minute brushing time, and they can help you optimise those two minutes by showing you exactly where your brush head is landing.

But there’s a bit of commitment required to get the app loaded and your phone in position before you get started. So it’s worth considering how much investment you’re willing to make in your oral hygiene goals before opting for one of these high-end products.

To see how these smart models match up against their no-frills rivals, read our electric toothbrush reviews.

Cheap electric toothbrush Best Buys

At over £100 each, the Oral-B Genius 9000 and Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected are among the most expensive electric toothbrushes on the market. But if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, there are plenty of cheaper electric toothbrushes worth checking out. We’ve found ones for less than £30 that are so good they’re recommended among our Best Buy electric toothbrushes.

A price cap for British energy customers with prepayment meters came into force yesterday – you’ll only get it when you top up. But prepayment meter customers face more problems than those with standard meters, exclusive Which? research reveals. Plus we uncover the best energy deals for prepayment meters.

More than a third of people with prepayment meters (35%) have had a problem with their energy supplier in the past year. But just a fifth (20%) of customers with a standard credit meter said they’d had a problem.

Scroll down to find out what these problems are, and what you can do to solve them.

The prepayment meter tariff cap was announced after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that prepayment meter customers did not have access to the cheapest energy deals, and were more likely to be in vulnerable circumstances.

The government expects the cap will save households around £80 per year, and that many energy companies will lower the prices of their prepayment meter tariffs to comply.

But Ovo Energy and Utilita have both announced small price rises for their prepayment customers. Utilita prepayment customers with dual fuel could see an extra £30 on bills per year. Ovo Energy customers will see a £16 increase on average. Keep reading to see the cheapest prepayment meter deals available now.

If you have a prepayment meter, or standard meter, use our independent energy switching service, Which? Switch, find the best energy deal. Or you can call us on 0800 410 1149 or 01259 220 235.

Top five prepayment meter problems

Which? research found that prepayment customers are more likely to have problems with their energy supplier than households with standard meters, as the graph below reveals. And 4% told us they’d had a problem with the prepayment meter itself.

Top problems and solutions for prepayment meter customers

1. Inaccurate bill – contact your energy supplier and ask it to explain or correct your bill. Have up-to-date meter readings to hand.


2. Problem with amount of price increase – if your energy firm announces an increase in the price of its standard tariff and you’re on this, you can switch energy supplier or tariff to avoid it. Follow our step-by-step guide to switching energy supplier. There are no exit fees if you are on a standard (or out of contract) tariff.


3. Lack of meter reading – make sure you’ve submitted your latest meter readings to your energy supplier. This means your bill is based on your actual usage, not estimates. If it’s estimated, check against your own readings to see how close it is. If you need your energy supplier to send someone to read your meter, get in touch with it and ask.


4. Inaccurate meter reading – if you believe your meter is faulty, take regular readings to help prove your case. If you think it’s running fast, try turning off all of your appliances and watching the meter; it shouldn’t still be recording significant amounts of energy. You can also ask your energy firm to test your meter. Find out more in our guide to dealing with a faulty energy meter.


5. Problems with customer service – try online FAQ sections or online chat if you have access to the internet as this can be quicker than phoning (as our energy firms call waiting investigation revealed). If you have a complaint, check our tips for complaining to your energy supplier.

Top up to cut your bills

Price changes to meet the cap will be applied to your meter when you next top up; they won’t automatically apply on 1 April when the cap comes into force. So if your energy company is dropping its prices, top up as soon as you can (even if it’s just the minimum amount) to take advantage of the new prices.

Cheapest energy deals: prepayment meter vs direct debit

You could save £315 over a year if you switched to the cheapest direct debit deal with a standard meter, from the priciest prepayment meter deal (Ecotricity’s Green Electricity prepayment tariff).

Below we’ve listed the cheapest energy deals on the market, and the cheapest prepayment meter deals if you want to, or have to, keep your prepayment meter.

If your energy supplier won’t change your prepayment meter for a standard one, or you can’t switch, it’s still worth checking you’re on your supplier’s cheapest deal. Ask it, or compare gas and electricity prices using Which? Switch.

Standard meter, monthly direct debit		Prepayment meter
Supplier and tariff	Annual price	Supplier and tariff	Annual price
Iresa Flex4 12month Fixed Direct Debit – paperless	£834	E 1 Year Fixed Price Smart (smart meters only)	£986
Economy Energy Direct Saver 2017 v3 – paperless	£843	Nabuh Energy Lite Rate Fix 12 Month Apr18 v1 – Paper and Paperless	£993
Future Energy Future Variable Tracker – Paper and Paperless	£861	Spark Energy Spark Protected (June 2018) – Paper and Paperless	£1,000
Octopus Energy Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed December 2016 v1 – Paperless	£870	Toto Energy Go with the flow – Smart pay as you go – Paperless	£1,030
Avro Energy Simple and Bright – Paperless	£871	EDF Energy Blue+Fixed Prepay March 2018 – Paperless	£1,036

(Prices based on dual fuel, for a medium user (based on Ofgem averages of 12,500kWh gas and 3,100kWh electricity per year), with paperless billing. Data from Energylinx and correct at 28 March 2017.)

Big Six energy firms and prepayment meters

Which? research reveals that all of the Big Six energy companies are dropping their prices for prepayment meters as the cap comes into effect. Npower customers on its standard prepayment deal will see the biggest cut, of £105 on average per year, because its standard tariff was previously the priciest.

Some Co-operative Energy, Extra Energy, Spark Energy and Utility Warehouse dual fuel customers will also see price cuts of over £100.

Which? tests have uncovered a Don’t Buy carpet stain remover from a well-known brand that’s more than seven times the price of our top Best Buy.

When spilled red wine seeps into your new wool carpet, the temptation is to make a mad dash to the shops for a carpet stain remover. However, our latest stain remover tests have found you don’t have to splash out to save your carpet.

We put 17 carpet stain removers, including soapy water, through our tough lab tests to find out which ones will really clean away those tough-to-shift stains – ranging from red wine to chocolate.

The worst-scoring product on test costs £4 per 100ml. In stark comparison, our top-scoring Best Buy carpet stain remover costs just 54p per 100ml. Our other Best Buy is also cheaper than our worst scorer, at 95p per 100ml.

To discover the best and worst carpet stain removers, visit our carpet stain remover reviews.

Best and worst stain removers

We test for almost any type of mark your carpet might encounter: from sticky stains, such as fruit juice or jam, to gloopy chocolate, all the way through to mud marks and spilled food. Not forgetting those heavily staining dark marks, such as red wine, black coffee and tea.

We also test them when fresh, and once dried on, and score every product individually, stain by stain. This means that if you’re prone to a particular type of stain, you can use our results to buy the best product for the job.

Some stain removers fare better than others on particular stains. Our Don’t Buy failed to have any impact on most stains, including chocolate, fresh mud and red wine. Our two Best Buys were among the best at tackling all stains, with one exception – one Best Buy struggled with mud.

Mud is a tough stain to shift, though. As anyone who owns a muddy dog or child will know. If this is you, resist the urge to get out your stain remover the next time your carpet is under attack. We found that mud is easier to clean why dry.

To find out which stain buster is best on each stain, and when it’s best to leave a stain to dry, see our carpet cleaning tips.

Are carpet stain removers worth it?

Our tests also found that in some cases, a simple soapy water solution is better at tackling stains than the majority of cleaners we tried. Only six products in our tests did the job better.

Soapy water was particularly good on fresh stains, and one of the best at getting rid of sticky stains and tea. So if you don’t have a Best Buy in the cupboard, reach for the trusty bucket and sponge.

Sadly, not all home remedies are a winner. Steer clear of salt or white wine on red wine stains, for instance. When we’ve tested these in the past, we’ve found they’re useless.