A NEW Halesowen cafe has been handed a hygiene rating.

Salao de Cafe on Hagley Street, was handed a three-out-of-five rating after assessment on February 8.

The cafe's hygienic food handling was rated good.

The cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was rated as generally satisfactory and the management of food safety - the system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future - was also rated generally satisfactory.

The Latin-American themed coffee shop opened in December in the former Shelter charity shop unit.

The Food Standards Agency rates businesses from zero to five so that customers can make more informed choices about where to buy and eat food.

A rating of five means hygiene standards are very good, four means hygiene standards are good, three means hygiene standards are generally satisfactory, two means some improvement is necessary, a rating of one means major improvement is necessary and a rating of zero means urgent improvement is required.