FSAI issues eight Closure Orders in August
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has reported eight Closure Orders served to food businesses in August for serious breaches of food safety regulations
Print10 September 2024
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that eight Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of August for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The Closure Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Reasoning for closures
Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in August include: evidence of ongoing rodent infestation with droppings found in kitchen area; failure to implement adequate pest control measures; dead cockroaches found in traps and flies in the deli area; inadequate regular and thorough cleaning; uncovered bins filled with food waste; a build-up of dirt on used catering equipment and on the floor; a lack of basic hygiene provisions, such as hot water, soap, and drying facilities for staff; food not stored at correct temperature; a lack of food allergen information available for customers; failure to implement an appropriate food safety culture.
Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive, FSAI, warned that there is a legal responsibility for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to their customers is safe to eat.
“Whilst most food businesses follow high food safety standards and are compliant with food law, inspectors continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk through a failure to comply with food safety and basic hygiene requirements,” said Dr Byrne.
Zero tolerance
Dr Byrne notes that these non-compliances are avoidable, and the FSAI has zero tolerance for any food business that does not comply with its legal requirements.
“Food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure the safe supply of food and it is unacceptable that basic procedures like hand washing, cleaning, robust pest control measures and storing food correctly at the appropriate temperature are not being properly followed.”
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website.
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 premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the Order was lifted.
Read more: FSAI warns of foodborne illnesses linked to raw beans
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