Safety body ordered 13 food businesses to close in July

THIRTEEN FOOD businesses, including a number of stalls at Oxegen and the Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, were ordered to shut down over safety breaches in July, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said yesterday.

This represented the highest number of closure orders ever issued in a month by the authority.

The closure orders were issued by environmental health officers in HSE West, HSE Dublin/North-East and HSE Dublin/Mid-Leinster. Among those outlets ordered to shut in July included a Chinese fast food stall at the main stage in Arena 2 at the Oxegen festival.

In addition, four stalls, which were operating during the recent Festival of World Cultures, were also ordered to close. These include the Punjab Balti, a Taste of India and Habesha Food Company food stalls, and a separate stall run by Keziah Mabunde.

Closure orders were served on a number of premises in Dublin including the Saagar Restaurant on Harcourt Street and the Hanlin Restaurant and Rong Xing supermarket, both on Parnell Street.

The kitchen of the Patrick Ivory pub on Castle Street, Dalkey, Co Dublin, was served with a closure order in July as was part of the premises of Keenans Butchers and Deli on Lanesboro Road, Roscommon; the Cherry Blossom takeaway and restaurant on Church Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow; the Hadi Indian takeaway at Main Street, Ballaghderreen, Co Roscommon and the Liada Bakery, which trades as Merkurius D, at Quinnspares, Durrow, Co Offaly.

A closure order is issued if the FSAI rules there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health in the food premises. The order can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.

Last month a successful prosecution was carried out by the HSE Dublin/Mid-Leinster region on the Hogan Stand butcher shop, Unit 2, Lyster House, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

The FSAI said it is unacceptable some food businesses are continuing to breach food safety laws and warned all operators to prioritise robust food safety systems and hygiene practices. “It is a hugely disappointing statistic that we are reporting today a record number of closure orders for the month of July,” said Prof Alan Reilly, chief executive of the authority.

“The same recurring, but easily preventable, faults continue to contribute to the closure of food businesses and this must be addressed by food businesses operating to unsatisfactory standards.”