Thursday, 10 August 2023
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that ten Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of July 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) and officers of the FSAI.
Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Al Huda Grocery, 72A Summerhill, Dublin 1
- Spice of India (restaurant/café), Looneys Cross, Bishopstown, Cork
- MJ Atkinson Limited, Unit 3, Pullamore Business Park, Dublin Road, Cavan
Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Momo's (restaurant/café), Unit 8, Tuansgate, Belgard Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24
- Sichuan Chilli King (restaurant/café), 100a Parnell Street, Dublin 1
- Pizza Lab (takeaway), 16 King Street North, Dublin 7
- Ocean Palace Chinese Takeaway, Unit 8A, Blackcastle Shopping Centre, Blackcastle, Navan, Co. Meath
One Improvement Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- D Grill (restaurant/café), 40 Aungier Street, Dublin 2
One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Delhi2Dublin, 363 Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12
One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Pizza Lab (takeaway), 16 King Street North, Dublin 7
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in July include: an open bag of cooked chicken was stored adjacent to blood stained boxes of raw chicken; raw pork and chicken was found thawing in the vegetable preparation sinks; rotten meat stored on premises, indicating a breakdown in the cold chain; lack of information relating to meat traceability; foul water had stagnated in an open drain near a drinks service area; lack of effective monitoring procedures for foods stored in the fridge and freezer, with the food handler on site unaware that the cold room wasn’t working properly; significant build-up of mould on surfaces in the cold storage room; medications were stored immediately above ingredients and could fall into food unnoticed; lack of allergen information; heavy cockroach activity in the kitchen near uncovered food; rodent droppings were noted behind a chest freezer, indicating likely pest contamination of foodstuffs; there was no evidence of regular cleaning and staff could not demonstrate safe food handling practices; and an establishment operating without registration or approval.
Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that while the majority of food businesses adhere to food safety regulations, it is clear that some businesses are not fully compliant.
“Food safety is critical to safeguarding public health. Failures to follow the basics of staff training, regular cleaning and correct storage of food are seen again and again throughout the Enforcement Orders issued in July. It is also not acceptable for businesses to store and process meat and poultry without proper registration with the relevant authorities. Unregistered and unauthorised food businesses are a risk to public health, as it is not possible to verify compliance with food law. All food businesses, from the established to the newly opened, must fully adhere with food safety regulations at all times. Enforcement action will be taken for transgressions, in the interest of public health protection.”
Also, during the month of July, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:
- Il Sorriso (restaurant/café), 1 New Street, Malahide, Co Dublin
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.
