Seven Enforcement Orders Served on Food Businesses in August
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers in the Food Safety Authority (FSAI) served three Closure Orders and four Prohibition Orders on food businesses during the month of August 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.
Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Mini India (Service Sector), Dublin 2
- Bartkus Uncle Meat Limited (Small meat manufacturing plant), Corragarry, Cavan
- Darkey Kelly’s (Public House), Temple Bar, Dublin 8
Four Prohibition Orders were served under European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Live5D Health Ltd (Health Food Shop/ Pharmacy/ Sports Nutrition), Boyle
Nutrition
Among the reasons for the Closure Orders in August are: evidence of live and dead cockroaches throughout the food premises; evidence of rodent activity, including rodent droppings, a live rodent observed running across the floor of a cold room and evidence of rodent gnaw marks on food packaging; inadequate standards of cleanliness and maintenance, including a build-up of dirt, grease-covered vents, cobwebs, insects and dead flies throughout a premises; absence of a food safety management system based on HACCP principles; failure to provide adequate hand-washing facilities; failure to ensure food workers were adequately supervised, instructed and/or trained in food hygiene; food business had not been registered or approved by a competent authority.
Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said “It is concerning to see such serious deficiencies in basic food safety controls in these Closure Orders, particularly the evidence of significant pest activity and poor standards of hygiene and maintenance. Consumers have a right to safe food. Food businesses must have effective measures in place to prevent pests gaining access to food premises and must maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all times. These cases also highlight the importance of having an effective food safety management system in place, supported by properly trained staff and appropriate hygiene facilities. Food safety controls must work in practice, every day, to protect consumers. Where businesses fail to meet their legal responsibilities and food safety is compromised, enforcement action is necessary to protect public health when it comes to food safety.”
“We strongly encourage food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses,” added Mr Dempsey.
