Aprons caked with blood and the discovery of rodent droppings where food, food preparation equipment and food packaging materials were stored were some of the offences discovered by The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in July.
Last month, the FSAI issued ten Closure Orders and one Improvement Order on food businesses in Ireland for breaches of food safety legislation.
In terms of the reasons given for the Enforcement Orders, they include; rodent droppings found where food, food preparation equipment and food packaging materials were stored.
Elsewhere, food debris and grease on equipment and surfaces, aprons caked with blood and dirt, inadequate pest control and open bins filled with meat and surrounded by flies were also discovered.
Some of the other healthcare violations that were found included flies observed on a sandwich preparation board, wet and dirty clothes strewn around a kitchen, internal fridges caked in food grime and no traceability information available to verify where food had originated.
In total, seven Closure Orders was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 to the following premises:
- Spar (Closed Area: Deli Counter), Duff House, 13-15 Summerhill Parade, Dublin 3
- The King Pig Food Stall, 108 Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin 8
- Monto’s Restaurant, Main Street, Kilmessan, Co. Meath
- Riverside Café, Mountnugent, Co. Cavan
- Eskimo Pizza and Lam’s, 31 Deansgrange Road, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin
- Fredis Pizzeria, 58 Dublin Street, Monaghan
- Fredis Takeaway, 3 West Street, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 to:
- Universal Food Store Limited (Closed Area: Butcher counter including coldroom) (butchershop), Unit 5, Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
- The Burren Atlantic Hotel (Closed Area: Kitchen), Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
- Joud World Food (retailer), 13 O’Connell Street, Waterford
One Improvement Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Rico’s, 26 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2
Speaking about the latest findings, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, has expressed particular concern over the number of Enforcement Orders issued in July.
Dr Byrne also emphasised that food businesses have a responsibility to maintain clean and hygienic premises.
“It is essential for food businesses to understand the importance of food safety and encourage good food safety practices among their staff, particularly through ongoing staff training.
"Enforcement Orders are served on food businesses only when a risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing breaches of food legislation. Closure Orders are not served for minor breaches. It is clear that some food businesses are not complying with the law and are potentially putting their customers’ health at serious risk,” said Dr Byrne.
