Rodent droppings and dirt ‘accumulations’ found by food safety inspectors

A cafe in north inner city Dublin was served a food safety closure order after a rat infestation was found in the premises and “heavy accumulations of dirt” were noted by inspectors in its kitchen.

Chai Café, of Dorset Street Upper, Dublin 1, was one of four businesses ordered to temporarily close last month by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) following a critical inspection.

Inspectors found an “active” rat infestation in the Chai Café premises, which was evidenced by rodent droppings and gnaw marks on a wall.

There was also “heavy accumulations of dirt in the kitchen on food preparation surfaces and equipment”. The inspection report noted that the dirt was such “that food was likely to be contaminated”, which it said amounted to a “grave and immediate” risk to public health.

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A Mr Price retail store on Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth was issued a partial closure order after inspectors found “evidence of rodent activity” in the premises, including droppings in the staff canteen. Some boxes and packages in the store had been “gnawed”, with signs of mouse droppings nearby, which the authority said posed a risk to public health. The order directed its store room and canteen be closed.

No hand washing facilities

Damas Food Stall, trading at the corner of Robert Street, Co Limerick, was ordered to close due to a failure keep the premises clean, the authority said. The inspection report noted an absence of hand washing facilities and hot water, as well as “inadequate separation of raw and cooked foods”.

Another business, Yasmin Bakery & Catering, operating from a house in Greenhills, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, was served a partial closure order.

It had failed to provide up-to-date information on its activities to food safety authorities, having previously indicated it was involved in producing bread and cakes. The order said following an inspection it was “determined that the activities of the food business had greatly increased to include the preparation and sale of high-risk foods”. The order directed the business to stop selling meat, fish and rice dishes.

Given the business was run out of a home, it did “not offer sufficient facilities and working space to allow for the hygienic performance of the preparation, storage and cooking of high-risk foodstuffs,” the order said.

The order said the owner could not demonstrate “that products placed on the market have been produced, processed and stored safely”, meaning there was an increased risk “that unsafe food may be placed on the market”.