Are you familiar with any of these places?
Seven closure orders and one prohibition order were served on Irish food businesses during the month of May, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The enforcement orders were issued for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.
Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Pygmalion Public House, Unit 19, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, William Street South, Dublin 2 (Date issued 31/05/22)
- Go Go Pizza and Kebab, Whitemill Road, Wexford (Date issued 26/05/22)
- HG Ritchie Limited (manufacturer), Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 (Date issued 16/05/22, date lifted 25/05/22)
- Mart Café, Raphoe Mart, Derry Road, Raphoe, Donegal (Date issued 06/05/22)
Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Sillis Green Veg (Closed activities: The use of sodium metabisulphite in the dipping process and production of foodstuffs), Sillis, Glaslough, Monaghan (Date issued 26/05/22)
- Milne Foods Limited (Closed activities: processing of all ready-to-eat foods on the premises), Syngefield Industrial Estate, Birr, Offaly (Date issued 11/05/22)
- Golden Beach Supermarket (Closed Activities: The preparation and serving of food in the ground floor kitchen and service area. The slicing and/or packing of food products in basement storeroom), 137 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 (Date issued 05/05/22, date lifted 12/05/22)
One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Bullet Duck & Dumpling (restaurant/café), 27 Mary Street Little, Dublin 7 (Date issued 12/05/22, date lifted 13/05/22)
Among the reasons listed for the enforcement orders – a lack of adequate procedures in place to control pests with live rodents and droppings spotted; high-risk food such as beef, chicken and pork dishes kept at temperatures that were likely to result in a health risk; food debris, encrusted dirt and grease on floor surfaces, wall surfaces and shelving; no hot water in any sinks at the premises; a lack of allergen information; following sampling, Listeria monocytogenes detected in some ready-to-eat foods; an electric fly killer full of dead insects was located directly above a production line; and no evidence of a food safety management system in place.
"It is simply unacceptable that some food businesses across Ireland continue to operate without fully adhering to food safety and hygiene legislation," said Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI.
"In particular, multiple occurrences in Enforcement Orders issued in May show a complete lack of adequate procedures in place to control pests. Consumers of food in Ireland have a right to safe food and hygienic food premises.
"As we move into warmer summer months, it is disappointing to note that some food businesses are also inadequately monitoring their electric fly killers, and in some cases are preparing food directly beneath leading to a risk of possible contamination.
"The health of consumers must never be put at risk, and we urge food businesses not to be so careless.”
