Seven food businesses shut last month over safety breaches

Seven food businesses, including three restaurants, a delicatessen and a pub, were served with closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month.

The orders were issued for breaches of food safety legislation. These included poor personal hygiene, lack of running water, inadequate washing facilities, incorrect food storage and a lack of or ineffective pest control programme.

A total of 106 enforcement orders were issued by the FSAI on food businesses in 2015, a 6 per cent drop from the 113 closure orders issued the previous year.

Tom Costello poultry slaughtering in the Old Town Hospital, Limerick, Tasty Bites restaurant on Hyde Road in Limerick and Sunrise Indian and European Takeaway in Bunbeg, Co Donegal were issued with closure orders last month under the FSAI Act, 1998.

JDs delicatessen in the Rathcoole Shopping Mall in Rathcoole, Dublin was served with a closure order over the poor preparation and sale of hot and cold foods at the deli counter. John Doyle’s public house in Phibsborough, Dublin 7 received a closure order over the preparation and service of its food but its beverage service was unaffected.

Dynasty Restaurant in Skibbereen, Co Cork and Moonsoon restaurant in Collon, Co Louth were also served with closure orders.

Safco Fine Foods Ltd in Cookstown Business Centre in Tallaght, Dublin 24 received a prohibition order under EC regulations.

A prosecution was also carried out by the HSE on the Pizza House restaurant on Bridge Street in Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

Dr Pamela Byrne, FSAI chief executive warned the legal onus was on food businesses to ensure full compliance with food safety legislation at all times. She warned that regardless of the drop in closure orders in 2014, food businesses must ensure the food they sell and serve is safe to consume.

“There is absolutely no excuse for negligent food practices,” said Ms Byrne. “Food businesses need to have the proper systems in place to ensure that the food they are preparing or serving is safe to eat.

“While most food businesses follow high standards and are compliant with food safety legislation, we continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk through a lack of compliance. This is unacceptable and will be met with the full rigours of the law.”