THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed that a number of businesses were served with Closure Orders in December 2024.
Nine businesses were slapped with Closure Orders during December, as a result of breaching the food safety legislation under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
These Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive.
The Closure Orders were served to:
- Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork on December 20, which was subsequently lifted on January 3, 2025.
- Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath on December 13, and was lifted three days later on December 16.
- K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 on December 12, and hasn’t been lifted.
- Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford on December 9, which was lifted on January 7, 2025.
- Lam’s Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny on December 5, and was lifted on December 11.
- Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2 on December 3, which was then lifted on December 19.
And three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 to:
- Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary on December 11, and hasn’t been lifted.
- Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5 on December 2, and was lifted on December 11.
- Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5 on December 2, and was subsequently lifted on December 11.
The FSAI noted that some of the reasons for the Closure Orders last month included’ inadequate pest control measures in place in Take Away Express on Northgate Street in Athlone, Westmeath; the presence of fresh rat droppings and decomposed rat carcass in Lam’s Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza in Callan, Co Kilkenny; and live cockroaches on walls, floors and in a sticky trap in Murphy’s Fish and Chips on John Street in Waterford.
Others reasons included; dirty premises, with accumulation of food debris, grease, dirt, and rat faeces in Cork Rooftop Farm Limited; live and dead cockroaches throughout the food storage and preparation areas in Murphys Fish and Chips; ready-to-eat foods incorrectly stored in Asian Express, Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5; complete lack of cleaning in K&Q Snacks Limited on 76 Boyne Road in Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11; and disorganisation in the storage of food and non-food-related equipment hindering adequate cleaning and disinfection in K&Q Snacks Limited.
The FSAI revealed that during the whole year of 2024, 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation.
This is a 45 per cent increase from 2023, when just 92 Enforcement Orders were served.
Between January 1 2024 and December 31 2024, 115 Closure Orders, 16 Probation Orders and 2 Improvement Orders were issued.
RECURRING ISSUES
These were handed out by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses across the country.
As a result of a number of recurring food safety issues in food businesses, Enforcement Orders were issued.
These included a lack of pest control procedures, inadequate regular and thorough cleaning, failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs, unsuitable food storage facilities, and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.
Now, the FSAI is reminding businesses of the importance of robust food safety management systems.
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
They are also stressing the legal responsibility that lies with food businesses to ensure they appropriately train staff to produce, serve and sell food that is safe to eat while ensuring that their premises are clean and adequately pest proofed.
Commenting on the annual figures, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, described the increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024 as unacceptable.
She said: “It is concerning to see a significant increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024. Consumers have a right to safe food and negligent food practices are inexcusable.
“The types of reasons cited for Enforcement Orders are simple errors that should not be happening in any food business. Enforcement Orders, especially Closure and Prohibition Orders, are never issued for minor breaches; they are served only when a serious risk to consumer health is identified or when ongoing breaches of food legislation pose significant hygiene or operational issues.
‘UNACCEPTABLE’
“Inadequate or absent pest control procedures was a recurring issue throughout 2024 and pest control needs to be addressed by all food businesses this year. Every food business must have robust pest control procedures in place to ensure that pests are not getting into their businesses and putting consumers’ health at risk.
“While the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, it is unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable. These fundamental breaches not only pose a potential risk to consumer health, but also undermine consumer trust.
“Food businesses must take responsibility and ensure compliance with food safety legislation at all times”.
