While she may be a supremo cook, Delia Smith's catering staff scored an own goal when inspectors visited the kitchens at Carrow Road. Norwich City's ground was visited by officials to check that food safety, hygiene rules and health and safety measures were being upheld after a complaint was made about standards.

While she may be a supremo cook, Delia Smith's catering staff scored an own goal when inspectors visited the kitchens at Carrow Road.

Norwich City's ground was visited by officials to check that food safety, hygiene rules and health and safety measures were being upheld after a complaint was made about standards.

An inspection report showed that while the quality of food preparation areas was found to be “very high indeed”, concerns were raised that staff had not been properly trained in health and safety.

Inspectors said all aspects of health and safety needed to be addressed “as a matter of urgency” before an accident happened.

The investigation into Delia's Canary Catering was carried out last June, but the information was disclosed to the Evening News only after we put in a request for it to be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Inspectors checked all food preparation areas on site including the Jarrolds stand concourse, 101 kitchen, the Lotus Bar and kitchen, the Top kitchen and kiosks.

Head chef Chris Pope was interviewed and cleaning schedules and temperature records were checked by a food safety officer from Norwich City Council's environmental health team.

In terms of health and safety, the reporting officer stated: “I was aware that Delia's Canary Catering may not have paid sufficient attention to complying with legislation.

“Although health and safety was treated with great importance by Norwich City Football Club, I was left with the impression that the catering operation was a secondary concern and that certain aspects may have been overlooked.

“Staff appeared vague as to what their health and safety responsibilities were and expressed a need for health and safety training to increase their knowledge and to clarify their roles.

The report went on to order: “As a matter of urgency, review all aspects of health and safety in regard to Delia's Canary Catering.”

Other recommendations included removing a pin board so there was no chance of drawing pins falling into people's food.

Caterers were also told to clean hand wash basins, ice machines and ice cream scoops more thoroughly and to ensure wall mounted paper towel dispensers were kept well stocked up.

Head chef Mr Pope said today: “We were pleased to note the food safety officer recognised that standards at Carrow Road were 'generally very high indeed' and that most of the matters raised in their report were recommendations and the few contraventions seen were 'minor and easily rectified'. Delia's Canary Catering remains absolutely committed to continuing to offer the best standards of service possible to our customers. We regularly review our food safety and our health and safety procedures and have of course taken the recommendations made in the report on board.”

Delia was once blasted for selling match pies which fans said were the worst they had ever tasted. After swapping to a Lancashire-based pie firm, she was then snubbed by local producers who said the football ground should support local pastry chefs.