The British are not convinced about the hygiene standards of staff in restaurants and fast-food chains, a new survey has revealed.

Sixteen per cent fear that chefs regularly fail to wash their hands before handling food. And one in five suspect that staff will still serve up food after it has been dropped on to the floor.

These were among the results of the Tork Toilet Barometer, an annual survey of washroom trends commissioned by SCA to coincide with World Toilet Day. A total of 4,000 Europeans took part in the survey including 500 from the UK.

The study showed that 65 per cent of UK diners have walked out of a restaurant because it had a grubby appearance. Meanwhile 88 per cent suspect that if a restaurant toilet is dirty, the same standards will be reflected in the kitchen.

And nearly a quarter of UK respondents (22 per cent) said the cleanliness of the toilet was a significant factor for them when visiting a restaurant.

“Hand hygiene is not rocket science – but it is crucial in a restaurant,” said SCA product and segment manager Julie Ray. “Diners need to feel confident about the hygiene standards in an eating establishment or they will simply not stay. And one way in which restaurants can help to instill this confidence is by providing clean, hygienic toilets equipped with single-use paper towels and soaps in sealed cartridge systems.”

The “Barometer of Public Washroom Opinion” is carried out every year to coincide with World Toilet Day on November 19. World Toilet Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of sanitation and highlight the plight of the 2.6 billion people globally who have no access to toilets.