The highest number of enforcement orders in one month since the legislation was introduced in 1998.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that during the month of November, 21 closure orders, and two prohibition orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and veterinary inspectors in the local authorities. The 21 closure orders were served under two different categories.

Eleven closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on the following businesses...

• New Century Chinese Takeaway, Riverstown, Dundalk, Louth
• Hui Kee (Take Away) (Closed area: Area to the rear of the premises housing coldroom), 52 Bulfin Road Inchicore, Dublin 8
• Vernon Catering (Packer) (Closed area: Packing area of open food in warehouse), Unit C104, Castleforbes Business Park, Sheriff Street Upper, East Wall, Dublin 1
• Sajna Exclusive Dining (Restaurant/ Café), 28/29 Bishop Street, Cobh, Cork
• Apache Pizza (Restaurant/ Café), 58 Dame Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
• Blackchurch Inn (Restaurant/ Café), Naas Road, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin
• Hilan Chinese and Korean BBQ Restaurant (Restaurant/ Café),45 Capel Street, Dublin 1
• The Kitchen (Restaurant/ Café), Emmet Street, Trim, Meath
• Roma Restaurant (Closed Area:- the external area to the rear and side of the premises used for food production and storage), Dundalk Street, Carlingford, Louth
• East Ocean (Take Away), 61 Port Road, Letterkenny, Donegal
• Elita Meats (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit D4, Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dunshaughlin, Meath

Ten closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• Tony's Bistro (Restaurant/ Café), 69 North Main Street, Cork
• Capital Turkish Kebab House (Restaurant/ Café), 3 Eglington Street, Galway
• Ballyneety Pizza (Take Away), Ballyneety, Limerick
• Westmanstown Sports Centre (Restaurant/ Café), Westmanstown, Dublin 15
• The Blue Anchor (Restaurant/ Café), Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, Louth
• Tikka Asian Street Food (Restaurant/ Café), Schooner House, South Quay, Wicklow
• Salvetas Take Away and Café (Restaurant/ Café), 4A Church Street, Finglas, Dublin 11
• Khan Spices (Retailer), 84 North Main Street, Cork
• Maliks Tandoori Restaurant (Restaurant/ Café), 1 Lower Pearse Road, Sligo
• The Paragon (Public House) (Closed activity: all activities with the exception of service of hot and cold drinks and prepackaged ready to eat snacks), Main Street, Skibbereen, Cork

And finally, two prohibition orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Vernon Catering (Packer), Unit C104, Castleforbes Business Park, Sheriff Street Upper, East Wall, Dublin 1
• Elita Meats (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit D4, Dunshaughlin Business Park, Dunshaughlin, Meath

Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in November according to the FSAI include:

• Evidence of rats in a premises
• A dead mouse found in a trap in a kitchen
• The presence of mouse droppings in bar area
• Substantial pigeon faeces present on the wash basin in a food packing area
• A live rodent was observed running in the direction of the food storage and equipment washing area
• Evidence of cockroaches throughout a kitchen
• Dead cockroaches were found behind a service fridge
• Raw chicken and raw chicken juices directly contaminating ready-to-eat foods

And the list goes on. Commenting today, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI condemned the record number of food businesses who have failed to ensure their premises operate to the highest food safety standards as we enter the busiest month of the year.

“November had the highest amount of Enforcement Orders in the one calendar month which the FSAI has seen since the legislation was introduced in 1998. 23 Enforcement Orders over a one-month period is totally unacceptable. The presence of rodents and other pests presents a grave and immediate danger to consumers’ health and food businesses must put in place more robust pest control systems."

You can read the detailed reports online here. The FSAI provides advice if food businesses are unsure what their legal obligations are at www.fsai.ie