Know any of these places?
Eight closure orders were served on Irish food businesses during February, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The enforcement orders were issued 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 by environmental health officers in the HSE and officers of the FSAI.
One Closure Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- The Magnet (take away), The Cross, Knocklong, Limerick (issued on 28/02/2022)
Seven Closure Orders were served under the EU regulations on:
- Rongs Asian Supermarket (Closed activities: slicing, packing, labelling of frozen raw meat products. The internet sites and social media sites operated by the food business are directed to be ceased for the purposes of placing frozen sliced raw meat product on market), 157 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 (issued on 25/02/2022)
- Feng Yuan Meats and all Business/Establishments/Holdings/Other Premises Including Internet Sites or Social Media Sites, 157 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 (issued on 25/02/2022)
- GREENHEARTCBD LTD (food supplements), Curragha, Ashbourne, Meath (issued on 23/02/2022)
- Blanch Fried Chicken (take away) (Closed activity: Immediate cessation of the preparation and breading of raw chicken and any other raw meat), Unit 40B Coolmine Industrial Estate, Porters Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 (issued on 23/02/2022)
- SCRAN (take away), 114 Bohermore, Galway (issued on 11/02/2022)
- Spice Magic (supermarket/take away), Pullolil House Carrigatogher, Nenagh, Tipperary (issued on 03/02/2022)
- Grennan’s (retailer) (Closed activities: The preparation and sale of ready to eat foods), Barrack Street/ Kilbride Street, Tullamore, Offaly (issued on 02/02/2022).
Under the FSAI Act, 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.
Under the EU regulations, closure orders are served where there is a non-compliance with food legislation.
Closure orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.
The orders may be lifted when the premises has improved to the satisfaction of the authorised officer.
Some of the reasons for the closure orders in February include evidence of extensive rodent activity; the substantial accumulation of grease, dirt and food particles on surfaces; ready-to-eat foods being stored uncovered and below raw food in the freezer; and inadequate temperature control measures for high-risk foods.
Additional reasons include:
No systems or procedures in place to allow for traceability information to be made available; staff unable to demonstrate that they were trained in food hygiene; no designated space provided for the preparation of raw chicken; raw meat products were mislabelled, fraudulently misrepresenting the meat products’ origin; no wash hand basin and no hot running water; and a history of persistent and recurring non-compliances.
Chief Executive of the FSAI Dr Pamela Byrne emphasised in a statement that all food businesses must operate stringent food safety procedures to protect consumers’ health.
“The vast majority of food businesses in Ireland must be commended for adhering to high food safety standards, however, there continues to be a number of food businesses failing to do so,” she said.
“We are urging those food businesses to recognise that the legal onus is on them to ensure that the food they serve or produce for their customers is safe to eat, and to ensure there is ongoing compliance with food safety legislation and hygiene standards.
“Food businesses must ensure they have a strong food safety culture in place, including regular and ongoing training of both full and part-time staff.
“There is simply no excuse for negligent practices.”
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