Tuesday, 08 February 2022
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that five Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during the month of January 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 (HSE).
One Closure Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Treacys Hotel (Closed area: The main kitchen and upstairs ancillary storage areas and staff facilities), 1 The Quay, Waterford
Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Feng Yuan Meats, Rear of 8 Meath Street, Dublin 8
- Hu Botanicals Ltd (All of the business, its establishments, holdings or other premises (including Aughadreena, Stradone, Co. Cavan) and all social media platforms operated by or on behalf of Hu Botanicals Ltd.), Out Offices, Balsoon Bective, Navan, Meath
- Kiely's Centra, Rosslare Road, Killinick, Wexford
- Café India, Patricks Court, Patricks Street, Tullamore, Offaly
One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Olivia's Food, 380 South Circular, Dublin 8
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in January include; a build-up of food debris; black sacks containing a mix of rice and rodent faeces located in a press adjacent to a small dry goods store; rodent droppings observed under shelving; exposed piping and rotten wood in male staff facilities; evidence that cleaning and disinfection was not taking place at a frequency sufficient to avoid any risk of contamination; dried food and dirt encrusted onto food storage containers and equipment in which food was stored; shelving on which food and food preparation equipment is stored was encrusted with dirt and grease; no labelling on pre-prepared food in refrigerated storage or on foods in frozen storage; an absence of systems and procedures which allow for traceability; frozen meals with high risk ingredients were being produced on site, but were not held at the correct temperature.
Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, warned that the legal onus is on food businesses to ensure they fully comply with food safety legislation at all times.
“It is unacceptable that we continue to find non-compliance with food safety legislation. Food business operators who do not fulfil their legal obligations to ensure food safety and hygiene are potentially putting their customer’s health at risk. Enforcement Orders and most especially Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are served on food businesses only when a serious risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation. Enforcement Orders are not served for minor breaches,” said Dr Byrne.
Dr Byrne stated that extensive resources are available to assist businesses comply with their obligations around food safety. She urged businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by the inspectorate and the FSAI to ensure that they have the correct food safety management systems in place.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. 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.
