The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that six Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during the month of March for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Taka Ra (Restaurant/Café), 37 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1
Cuppa City Coffee (Restaurant/Café), 3 Roger Casement Square, Cobh, Cork
The Old Punch Bowl (Pub) (Closed area: kitchen and food storage area on first floor only, bars not affected), 116 Rock Road, Booterstown, County Dublin
Xian Street Food (Restaurant/Café) (Closed area: satellite kitchen at 8 Quay Street. There is no part of the premises at 9 Quay Street Galway closed), 9 Quay Street, Galway
Two Closure Orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
Victoria Asian Cuisine (Restaurant/Café), 5a The Crescent, Monkstown, County Dublin
Gourmet Tart Company (Manufacturing), Unit 1, Block 13, Ballybane Industrial Estate, Tuam Road, Galway
One Prohibition Order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
Gourmet Tart Company (Manufacturing), Unit 1, Block 13, Ballybane Industrial Estate, Tuam Road, Galway
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in March include: A large amount of rodent droppings were scattered on the floor of the dry good store directly adjacent to the kitchen; large amount of rodent droppings noted at the back of the upright and chest freezers; no adequate pest control measures in place; large accumulation of filled refuse bags in an upstairs area close to the food preparation area; accumulation of food waste and debris across the entire kitchen premises; rat activity in rear area used for washing equipment, preparing sushi rice, and preparing ingredients for soup; large containers for mixing foodstuffs had a foul odour; containers of food stored directly on the floor of the premises which was in a greasy and dirty condition throughout; no evidence of hand washing or soap at wash hand basin; a slug on the wall adjacent to the dishwasher; dirty cloths used to clean surfaces and crockery; cooked rice was poorly stored at ambient temperatures in the dry goods store; containers of raw meat stored at ambient temperatures in the dry goods store on top of flour bins.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI emphasised that food businesses are not providing adequate care for their customers if they do not have a pest control system in place.
“The most common non-compliances identified in Irish food businesses during March were a significant lack of pest control, coupled with filthy conditions. It is alarming to see consistent reporting of rodent activity noted in food businesses. Rodents harbour bacteria and spread harmful pathogens, contaminating food and surfaces. Food inspectors continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk through a failure to comply with pest control and hygiene requirements, which is unacceptable.
“Food businesses run the risk of making their customers sick through exposing food to pests and ruining their reputation with consumers by neglecting basic food safety management and hygiene standards. Negligent practices will not be tolerated,” Dr Byrne concluded.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. 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.
