'Rat droppings and decomposed rat carcass' - Closure orders served on over 100 food businesses
FSAI issued 133 Enforcement Orders on food businesses nationally in 2024.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed that 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase of 45% on the 92 that were served in 2023.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, 115 Closure Orders, 16 Prohibition Orders and 2 Improvement Orders were issued 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 throughout the country.
A number of recurring food safety issues identified in food businesses resulted in Enforcement Orders being issued which included a lack of pest control procedures, inadequate regular and thorough cleaning and failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuff.
Other food safety issues included unsuitable food storage facilities and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.
The FSAI also reported that nine Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of December 2024 for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive.
Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork
- Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath
- K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
- Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford
- Lam's Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny
- Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2
Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary
- Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
- Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in December include: inadequate pest control measures in place, the presence of fresh rat droppings and decomposed rat carcass and live cockroaches on walls, floors and in a sticky trap.
Other issues included dirty premises, with accumulation of food debris, grease, dirt, and rat faeces, live and dead cockroaches throughout the food storage and preparation areas and ready-to-eat foods incorrectly stored. There was also a complete lack of cleaning, disorganisation in the storage of food and non-food-related equipment hindering adequate cleaning and disinfection and no evidence of a food safety management system in place.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.