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Fitness & Health

09th Dec 2019

Live rodent and dead cockroaches amongst reasons for 23 enforcement orders on Irish food businesses in November

Conor Heneghan

closure orders

November saw the highest number of enforcement orders in a single month since legislation was introduced in 1998.

The sight of a live rodent running in the direction of a food storage and equipment washing area, the discovery of a dead mouse in a trap in a kitchen area, the presence of mouse droppings, substantial pigeon faeces and evidence of cockroaches both alive and dead were amongst the reasons for the issuing of a record 23 enforcement orders to Irish food businesses during November.

According to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), 21 closure orders and two prohibition orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and veterinary inspectors in the local authorities.

During the month of November, 21 closure orders were served in total; 11 under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

  • Elita Meats, Unit D4 Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dunshaughlin, Meath (Order served on 4 November, order lifted on 22 November)
  • East Ocean, 61 Port Road, Letterkenny, Donegal (Order served on 5 November, order lifted on 12 November)
  • Roma Restaurant (Closed Area: the external area to the rear and side of the premises used for food production and storage), Dundalk Street, Carlingford, Louth (Order served on 6 November, order lifted on 13 November)
  • The Kitchen, Emmet Street, Trim, Meath (Order served on 7 November, order lifted on 9 November)
  • Hilan Chinese and Korean BBQ Restaurant, 45 Capel Street, Dublin 1 (Order served on 8 November, order lifted on 12 November)
  • Blackchurch Inn, Naas Road, Rathcoole, Dublin (Order served on 11 November, order lifted on 16 November)
  • Apache Pizza, 58 Dame Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (Order served on 11 November, order lifted on 13 November)
  • Sajna Exclusive Dining, 28/29 Bishop Street, Cobh, Cork (Order served on 19 November, order lifted on 23 November)
  • Vernon Catering (Closed area: Packing area of open food in warehouse), Unit C104, Castleforbes Business Park, Sheriff Street, Upper East Wall, Dublin 1 (Order served on 20 November)
  • Hui Kee (Closed area: Area to the rear of the premises housing coldroom), 52 Bulfin Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 (Order served on 27 November, order lifted on 4 December)
  • New Century Chinese Takeaway, Riverstown, Dundalk, Louth (Order served on 27 November)

10 closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

  • The Paragon (Closed activity: all activities with the exception of service of hot and cold drinks and pre-packaged ready to eat snacks), Main Street, Skibbereen, Cork (Order served on 12 November, order lifted on 14 November)
  • Maliks Tandoori Restaurant, 1 Lower Pearse Road, Sligo (Order served on 13 November)
  • Khan Spices, 84 North Main Street, Cork (Order served on 14 November, order lifted on 20 November)
  • Salvetas Take Away and Café, 4A Church Street, Finglas, Dublin 11 (Order served on 18 November)
  • Tikka Asian Street Food, Schooner House, South Quay, Wicklow (Order served on 19 November, order lifted on 20 November)
  • The Blue Anchor, Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, Louth (Order served on 23 November, order lifted on 29 November)
  • Westmanstown Sports Centre, Westmanstown, Dublin 15 (Order served on 26 November, order lifted on 28 November)
  • Ballyneety Pizza (Take Away), Ballyneety, Limerick (Order served on 27 November, order lifted on 4 December)
  • Capital Turkish Kebab House, 3 Eglington Street, Galway (Order served on 28 November, order lifted on 6 December)
  • Tony’s Bistro, 69 North Main Street, Cork (Order served on 28 November, order lifted on 29 November)

Two prohibition orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

  • Vernon Catering (Packer), Unit C104, Castleforbes Business Park, Sheriff Street Upper, East Wall, Dublin 1
  • Elita Meats (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit D4, Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dunshaughlin, Meath

More details on the enforcement orders are available on the FSAI website here.

Commenting on the record high number of enforcement orders in a single month, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “November had the highest amount of enforcement orders in the one calendar month which the FSAI has seen since the legislation was introduced in 1998.

“23 enforcement orders over a one-month period is totally unacceptable. The presence of rodents and other pests presents a grave and immediate danger to consumers’ health and food businesses must put in place more robust pest control systems. Some of the reasons for enforcement orders in November demonstrate totally inadequate hygiene standards and these operators are damaging the reputation of the food industry as we enter one of the busiest months of the year.

“With the Christmas period already underway, food businesses must ensure they maintain high food safety standards and I hope in December we see a significant reduction in enforcements and improving food safety standards. The FSAI provides advice if food businesses are unsure what their legal obligations are at www.fsai.ie or the FSAI Advice Line, [email protected].”

Details of the food businesses served with enforcement orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie. 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.