During the month of August the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served four Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation.
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in August include; no running water to the building that contained the toilets, a dead bird was found in the premises, no controls in place to control the risk associated with storage and an oven stored on the floor which could cause food contamination.
Elsewhere, protective clothing was stained and stored unprotected in an open yard area, a derelict building which contained the toilet and storage of some foodstuffs was in an extremely dirty condition and a failure to ensure that the competent authority had up-to-date information on the range of activities taking place at the establishment were also cited.
As for the particular businesses, two Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on J2 Sushi & Bento in Swords, Co. Dublin.
Part of the activities of the business, its establishments, holdings or other premises were ceased, namely the preparation and sale of sushi and sashimi.
Elsewhere, a Closure Orders was also issued to Hempture and Hempland on Dublin's Abbey Street Upper.
All activities of the food business, its establishments, holdings or other premises and the internet sites and social media sites operated by food business were ceased for the purpose of placing food on the market)
Two Closure Orders were also served under the FSAI Act on Johnny's Grub Hub, Tramore, Co. Waterford (Closed area: Food preparation and cooking shed adjacent to food stall situated at Pickardstown, Tramore, Co. Waterford) and Good Coffee Matters Food Stall, Roscrea, Tipperary (Closed area: Namely the derelict building adjacent the food stall used for storage of food and toilet facilities).
Finally, a Prohibition Order was served to Heaney Meats Catering Co. Limited, Liosban Industrial Estate, Co. Galway
The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premise is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
Commenting on the most recent findings, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, has warned that there is a legal responsibility for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to customers is safe to eat
"There is no excuse for behaviour which has the potential to put consumers’ health at risk. We are once again appealing to all food businesses to ensure they are fully compliant with food safety procedures and hygiene legislation.
Consumers have a right to safe food and in turn, food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure they provide is safe to eat. All food business owners must ensure that their business is complying with food law at all times."
