'Extensive' rodent activity, a dead rodent on a crisp box as well as cooked meat being left out overnight were just three of the reasons that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued closure orders on food businesses last month.
Seven closure orders were issued on food businesses in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford during the month of March for breaches of food safety legislation.
Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- IrEntertainment Limited, 106 Lagan Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Dublin 11
- Press Up Eats, 4-5 South Main Street, Cork
- OPTP Eatery Limited (take away), The Cross, Knocklong, Limerick
- Asian Food Babak, Unit 5A, Park Road Business Park, Park Road, Waterford
Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Remedy Health (Closed activities: All processing, marketing, sale and supply of Cannabidiol (CBD) food products (including food supplements) and the internet sites or social media sites it operates or employs, be ceased), Unit 7, Yawl Business Park, Millennium Court, Foxhole, Youghal, Cork
- Indias Taste (take away), Bridgewater Hall, 17-19 Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1
- Allta at Liffey Trust Centre, 117-126 Sheriff Street Upper, Dublin 1
One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Remedy Health Limited, Unit 7, Yawl Business Park, Millennium Court, Foxhole, Youghal, Cork
Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in March included:
- Evidence of extensive rodent activity;
- A glue trap containing a dead rodent was found on a box of crisps on the shop floor;
- Dual use of vacuum packer i.e. raw food and cooked food vacuum packing taking place on same vacuum packer;
- No suitable means of washing and disinfecting cooking equipment;
- Sink designated for vegetable preparation was being used to store large pots and pans;
- No wash hand basin provided in the kitchen, and no hot water supply at the wash hand basins in staff toilet;
- Containers of vegetables, cooked chicken and cooked lamb stored overnight and uncovered in an open display unit;
- Adequate and appropriate food hygiene training was not demonstrated by higher management;
- No written allergen information available to customers;
- No evidence of effective food safety management system in place;
- Concentrations of CBD declared on product labels were misleading as to the characteristic of the foods and, in particular, as to their composition.
During the month of March, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to Old Oak and 115 Café, 113 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork .
Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, reminded businesses that ensuring food safety practices are being followed is a legal requirement.
"It is simply not good enough that there continues to be such grave and serious disregard of basic food safety procedures. The Enforcement Orders in March show that some businesses are failing to comply with safe food practices that are in place to protect consumers’ health.
"In particular, several of the Closure Orders reference significant rodent infestations. This is not acceptable in any food business at any time, as it poses a serious risk to public health. Food businesses need to ensure that they have a strong food safety culture, including correct food safety management procedures in place to ensure pest control and best hygiene practice at all times. Consumers have a right to safe food."
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
