The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned the food industry to "rigidly adhere" to best safety practices during the summer months.
The body said that as summer temperatures rise, food-borne illness peaks, and the industry has a responsibility to protect consumer health.
"Previous outbreaks at this time of the year, where premises have been closed in the midst of high-profile food poisoning incidents, must serve as a wake-up call to all food businesses to ensure that their food safety systems are robust to cope with warm weather conditions and intensely busy periods," the FSAI said.
An average of 17 cases of salmonellosis poisoning were notified to the National Disease Surveillance Centre each month for the period January to April from 2001 to 2003.
"This rises to approximately 50 per month for the period May to September representing an increase over the warmer months," the FSAI said.
For the same three-year period, there was an average of 92 notifications of food poisoning from bacteria other than salmonella from January to April. This figure rises to 145 per month from May to September during the same three-year period.
Mr Alan Reilly, deputy chief executive officer of the FSAI, said food poisoning can be a serious illness, but is absolutely avoidable if adequate food hygiene and temperature controls are in place.
"It is not difficult to operate in the best manner and protect consumers from food poisoning. The principle causes of food poisoning are inadequate training of food workers, poor hygiene practices, improper storage of food, inadequate cooking and re-heating of food and cross contamination."
He said hygiene practice should become "instinctive".
"If food workers are not trained to abide by the most basic and simple food safety guidelines, such as washing their hands after using the toilet, the industry risks causing serious outbreak.
"Food workers who are suffering from symptoms of food poisoning should not be at work as they are putting customers and other workers at risk. Additionally, once a food worker has recovered from illness, he/she can still carry the bacteria and pass it on to others," he said.
"There will be no excuse for those premises linked to food poisoning outbreaks this year," he added.
The FSAI said eight enforcement orders - including five closure orders, one prohibition order and two improvement orders - were served by environmental health officers (EHOs) during July for breaches of food legislation.
In the Northern Area Health Board, closure orders were served on Coolmine Confectionery, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Dublin 15, and on the Decency Inn, 162 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
The North Western Health Board EHOs served a closure order on The Beachcomber (excluding the bar and public toilets), Kerrs Bay, Rathmullen, Donegal. Veterinary inspectors at Offaly County Council served a closure order on K&L Meats Ltd, Tanyard Industrial Estate, Tullamore.
A closure order and a prohibition order were served by veterinary inspectors in Offaly County Council on Chill One at Tanyard Industrial Estate, Tullamore.
Improvement orders were granted by the district court on request of the EHOs in the Northern Area Health Board on The Plaza Chinese Restaurant, Unit 20, First Floor, The Plaza shopping centre, Swords, Co Dublin, and at the request of the South Western Area Health Board on Rathfarnham Convalescent Home, Stocking Lane, Scholarstown Road, Dublin 16.