One of the orders related to rodent droppings being found.
Two Irish businesses were served with closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation in February, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The two closure orders – on food businesses in Cork and Roscommon – were served under the FSAI Act, 1998.
These were on:
- Soma (Restaurant/Café), 23 Tuckey Street, Cork
- Twisted Dough Wicklow (Service Sector), Food stall trading at The Crescent Boyle, Roscommon
Soma’s closure order – served on 12 February – required all of the premises to be closed.
It read: “Rodent droppings found in store room (food + non food), in press beside boiler & behind presses in service area.”
A list of corrective measures for Soma to complete before reopening were issued by the FSAI.
These included a thorough cleaning of the premises, sterilising, pest proofing and a pest control site visit.
The closure order was lifted on 13 February.
Twisted Dough Wicklow’s closure order also required all of the premises to be shut.
In terms of the reasons for the order, the FSAI stated: “The nature and extent of food activities carried out in this food business had changed without the provision of sufficient and adequate facilities to cater for this change resulting in heightened risk of cross contamination.
“There was an immediate risk of cross contamination due to raw chicken being prepared in the foodstall on a folding table immediately adjacent the coffee machine, where various selections of coffee were being prepared.”
Another reason for the order included the absence of running hot and cold water for the washing and disinfection of equipment, hands and workspaces.
The closure order was served on 11 February and has not been lifted.
In a statement on Monday, FSAI Chief Executive Dr Pamela Byrne emphasised the importance of all food businesses observing “rigorous food hygiene practices” and ensuring they are notified to the relevant competent authority.
She said: “The Enforcement Orders served in February highlight the need for all food businesses to meet their legal requirements of high standards of food safety, hygiene and pest control to prevent food contamination and protect consumer health.
“Consumers have a right to safe food and food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure that the food they are processing, serving or selling is safe to eat.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
