Dead rodents found underneath a chest freezer and droppings in a container were just some of the reasons three businesses were slapped with closure orders last month.
Throughout May, these businesses were found to be in breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
A Closure Order was served on May 27 under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Kens Oriental Restaurant, 1st Floor, Quintins Way, Pearse Street, Nenagh, Tipperary. This was lifted on June 1.
Elsewhere, two Closure Orders were served to Factory Canteen, that's operated Independently by KC Catering at ABP Food Group, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Cork and the Your Stop NR Farranree retailer that's located at 6 Popams Road, Farranree, Cork.
The KC Catering order was served on May 26 and lifted the next day.
The Your Stop order was served on May 11 and lifted on May 14.
In a statement that was released today, the FSAI said that some of the reasons cited for May's closure orders include "rodent activity including dead rodents underneath the chest freezer in the food preparation area and underneath a freezer in the storeroom next to the kitchen; rodent droppings in a container in the food preparation area which stored food contact equipment; evidence of rodent damage to packages of pasta.
The statement adds: "Food premises not maintained in a clean and hygienic condition; plumbing issues resulted in damage to the floor and caused pooling of water on the floor; part of the floor was damaged and not in a fit state to be cleaned effectively; and falsified food safety records were identified along with an absence of a food safety management system increasing the risk of food contamination and posing a risk to food safety."
Speaking about the most recent findings, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “The food inspectors continue to find unacceptable levels of non-compliance with food safety legislation in some food businesses. It is a legal requirement for all food businesses to have their premises protected against pests and kept clean.
"However, time after time inspectors are finding regular incidents of rodent infestations and filthy premises highlighting a disregard for basic food safety management.
"Consumers have a right to safe food and we would urge anyone who is concerned or suspect there is unusual activity being demonstrated by a food business, that they can contact us via our online complaint form and we will investigate."
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.
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