“Extremely large build-up of congealed blood” among the reasons for January food closure orders

Five closure orders were served on Irish food businesses in January.

Evidence of rodent activity, a large build-up of congealed blood and a large accumulation of dirt and debris were among the reasons for issuing 11 five closure orders on food businesses in Ireland last month. The Enforcement Orders were served for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

Five Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• The Exchange Bar, 1 Ballybricken, Waterford City, Waterford
• The African Shop/Costello Stores (Retailer), 87 Shandon Street, Cork
• Mr. Kebab (Take Away), 99 Lower Glanmire Road, Cork City, Cork
• T/A Londis (Retailer) (Closed area: external building comprising of a walk-in cold room, walk-in freezer and 3 storage areas), New Road, Bellurgan, Dundalk, Louth
• Oriental City and Noodle House (Restaurant/Café), Keen Market, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, Laois

The FSAI also published details of a Closure Order served in October 2019 under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. The Closure Order had been subject to an appeal to the District Court, which was subsequently withdrawn. The Closure Order was served on:

• Camden Rotisserie (Restaurant – Café), 37 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2

Some of the other reasons for the Enforcement Orders in January included a build-up of dirt and grease on equipment such as microwaves, extract canopies and hot-holding containers and a failure to ensure adequate pest control.

Commenting on the news, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI highlighted the need for food businesses to maintain adequate hygiene standards in the interest of public health.

“The Enforcement Orders in the first month of the year have demonstrated that inadequate hygiene practices are continuing to put consumers at unnecessary risk of falling ill," she said.

"If you are a food business owner, it is your responsibility to comply with the law and implement adequate food safety and hygiene standards as a core part of your business. Food legislation is primarily set to protect consumers from a variety of threats such as pest infestation and food contamination by dangerous bacteria.

"There is no justification for any food business to not fully implement all applicable food legislation. It is wholly unacceptable  that there continues to be some food businesses who are failing to have the right food safety management systems in place to ensure the food they serve to their customers is safe to eat.”

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website.