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Three food businesses in Ireland were served with closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation during the month of May, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
Two of the affected businesses were in Cork, while one was in Tipperary.
The food businesses were issued with closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EU (Official Control in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
One Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Kens Oriental Restaurant, 1st Floor, Quintins Way, Pearse Street, Nenagh, Tipperary (issued on 27/05/2021
and lifted on 01/06/2021)
Two Closure Orders was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Factory Canteen Operated Independently by KC Catering at ABP Food Group, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Cork (issued on 26/05/2021 and lifted on 27/05/2021)
- Your Stop NR Farranree (retailer), 6 Popam’s Road, Farranree, Cork (issued on 11/05/2021 and lifted on 14/05/2021)
Under the FSAI Act, 1998, a Closure Order is served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises; or where an Improvement Order is not complied with. Closure Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.
Under the EU (Official Control in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020, Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are served where there is a non-compliance with food legislation.
Some of the reasons for the closure orders were evidence of rodent activity, including dead rodents underneath freezers, and rodent droppings in containers which held equipment used to prepare food.
Others included falsified food safety records along with an absence of a food safety management system, increasing the risk of food contamination and posing a risk to food safety.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, emphasised that all food businesses must take responsibility and commit to ensuring high food safety standards and compliance with food law.
“The food inspectors continue to find unacceptable levels of non-compliance with food safety legislation in some food businesses,” she said.
“It is a legal requirement for all food businesses to have their premises protected against pests and kept clean. However, time after time inspectors are finding regular incidents of rodent infestations and filthy premises highlighting a disregard for basic food safety management.
“Consumers have a right to safe food and we would urge anyone who is concerned or suspect there is unusual activity being demonstrated by a food business, that they can contact us via our online complaint form.”
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