‘Live rodent’ in kitchen among reasons for closure orders on Irish food businesses in January

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Four enforcement orders were served on Irish food businesses during the month of January 2023, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). They were issued for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 and the FSAI Act, 1998, by Environmental Health Officers in the HSE and local authority veterinary inspectors in Monaghan County Council. One closure order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• (Letterkenny) Spiceland (fishmonger), Unit 1, Green Isle Park, Port Road, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, Donegal (Date served: 31/01/2023)

One Closure Order was served under the EU regulations, 2020 on:

• Happy Valley Chinese Take-Away, 3 Main Street, Duleek, Meath (Date served: 23/01/2023, Date lifted: 26/01/2023)

One Prohibition Order was served under the EU regulations, 2020 on:

• World of Spices, 12 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 (Date served: 27/01/2023)

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Premises occupied by Antanas Damarodas at Lacken, Latton, Castleblayney, Monaghan (Date served: 27/01/2023)

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 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. Meanwhile, a prohibition order prohibits a business from selling certain products, either temporarily or permanently. Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in January include the following:

"A live rodent was found in the kitchen; widespread evidence of a mouse infestation throughout the premises, with mouse droppings found in the retail, storage and delivery areas of the shop; meat stored in an unregistered and unapproved premises and the origin of the meat on the premises was unknown; a lack of information on product traceability; lack of information regarding allergen information as well as production, handling, distribution and storage processes."

The live rodent was observed in the kitchen of Happy Valley Chinese Take-Away on 3 Main Street in Duleek in Meath. Commenting on the enforcement orders, Chief Executive of the FSAI Dr. Pamela Byrne said that every food business must have a robust food safety management system in place.