Closure orders over food breaches served on businesses

Eleven closure orders and one prohibition order were served on food businesses during March for breaches of food safety legislation, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The orders were made in relation to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

Four closure orders were served under the FSAI Act on butcher Lucey's Ltd Main Street, Mallow, Cork in relation to the ready-to-eat deli counter and salad production kitchen (since lifted); the White House Hotel, Main Street, Ballinlough, Roscommon, in relation to the kitchen (since lifted); the Indian Royale restaurant of Market Centre, Main Street, Letterkenny, Donegal (imposed since March 14th) and the Pitstop takeaway of Connaught Street, Athlone, Co Westmeath (since lifted).

Closure orders

Closure orders were served under the EC regulations on Aisling Foundation, a food supplements supplier, of the Enterprise Centre, Bantry, Cork (in place since March 27th); delicatessen Alminna Wholesale Foods Ltd of Enterprise Park, Cookstown, Tallaght (served March 19th); Dublin Duona Bakery, of Ballymount Industrial Estate, Ballymount, Dublin 12 (since lifted); and Lituanica butchers (closed activities: handling, processing and sale of open cooked meats), The Maieston, Santry Cross, Ballymun (served March 12th).

EC regulations closure orders were also served on Fahy's Bar of Bohermore, Galway City (since lifted); China Garden restaurant of Dominick Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath (since lifted) and Little Treasures Naionra, Montessori and Afterschool (closed activity: use of a lobby as a kitchen for food and equipment storage; food preparation and other food related activities), of Bridgemeadows, Milehouse Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford (since lifted).

One prohibition order was served under the FSAI Act on Real Brasil Food Limited (grocery), Clarendon House, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2, in relation to unlabelled food and hot food.

FSAI chief executive Prof Alan Reilly expressed disappointment at the continuing high number of closure orders needing to be served on food businesses.

"We continue to find unacceptable levels of non-compliance with food safety legislation. Time and time again, we encounter cases of food business operators who are potentially putting their customers' health at risk by not complying with their legal obligations for food safety and hygiene.

“There is absolutely no excuse for negligent practices," he continued. "Food businesses must recognise that the legal onus is on them to make sure that the food they serve is safe to eat. This requires ongoing compliance with food safety and hygiene standards to ensure the food they are producing is safe to consume."