You may have eaten in some of these places.
The presence of a dead rodent located underneath a deli counter and evidence of rodent activity throughout food handling and storage areas are just two of the reasons cited by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) for the 11 enforcement orders served on food businesses in Ireland in September.
A total of 10 closure orders and one prohibition order were served on food businesses during the month of September for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.
Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in September include: the presence of a dead rodent located underneath the delicatessen counter, evidence of rodent activity throughout food handling and storage areas and a failure to provide accurate allergen information.
Other issues cited by the FSAI included staff failing to wash their hands throughout cooking and service, dirty cloths being used for cleaning food areas, thawing, re-mincing and reprocessing of frozen mincemeat and evidence of an absence of safe practices for thawing or cooking foods.
Foods were also left sitting at room temperature from the previous evening, posing a health risk to customers.
Speaking about these improper practices, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI, emphasised that vigilance is always required in relation to food safety and standards must not be permitted to slip.
“The rate at which enforcement orders are required for rodent-related incidents and poor hygiene standards is disconcerting,” she said.
“With 11 enforcement orders in September, it was disappointing to see a number of these relating to the presence of rodents in food premises and also a number where the hygiene standards were very poor. Food businesses must ensure that proper pest control systems are in place to ensure satisfactory hygiene standards.”
Five Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Pastel King (Restaurant/Café), 22/23 Moore Street, Dublin 1
- Oriental Pantry Supermarket Limited (Retailer), 22/23 Moore Street, Dublin 1
- Noor Foods (Butcher Shop), 10 Church Street, Dundalk, Louth
- Stela Food Stores (Retailer), Unit 8, Ringwood Centre, Damastown Close, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
- Londis (Retailer), 49 Grafton Street, Dublin 2
Five Closure Orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
- Taste of India (Take Away), 39 Main Street Lower, Letterkenny, Donegal
- Jesels Ltd (Closed activity: The decanting, mixing, packing/repacking and distribution or sale of such sweets and confectionery) (Manufacturer), Unit 3a, Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dublin Road, Dunshaughlin, Meath
- Tsangs Restaurant (Take Away), Littlepace Shopping Centre, Clonee, Dublin 15
- Lal Quila (Restaurant/ Café), Douglas Village, Douglas, Cork
- East Oriental (Take Away), Unit 5, Brabazon Hall, Ardee Street, Dublin 8
One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- MJI Meats 2595 (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit 6, Enterprise Centre, Ballyhaunis, Mayo
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