EVERY supermarket in Minehead has been rated as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ with regard to single-use plastics in a survey by West Somerset Together, an initiative of local environmental group, Forum 21.

But some small local food shops, including outlets in Dulverton and Brompton Regis, were rated ‘good’, especially for selling loose fruit and vegetables and giving shoppers the choice of paper bags.

The survey by West Somerset Together volunteers covered 14 food shops in Minehead, Dulverton and Exmoor villages in April and early May as part of a plastic waste campaign.

Stefano’s Food stall at Minehead Farmers’ Market was singled out for praise for selling food in compostable containers: “If small businesses like ours can do this, when are the supermarkets going to change?” said Jules Salvati, of Stefano’s Food.

Toucan Health Foods, of Minehead, was also commended for its use of paper and making cloth carrier bags available.

Others that were rated ‘good’ or ‘very good’ were Dulverton Delicatessen, Brompton Regis Village Shop, Dulverton Fruit and Vegetable Shop, Minehead Farmers’ Market and Stuart Lowen Farm Shop, Minehead.

The Plastic Waste Campaign plans to repeat survey at intervals.