14 food businesses served Closure Orders
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today (10 December) reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served 14 Closure Orders on food businesses during November 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.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date when a premises is judged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month
Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on various food businesses, including restaurants, cafés, takeaways, public houses, wholesalers, and service-sector operations.
Six Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020, on additional food businesses, including takeaways, restaurants, cafés, and domestic kitchens.
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in November include: rodent infestation in the main food preparation area with rodent droppings throughout the main kitchen area and an old rodent carcass in a bar area; both dead and live cockroaches visible in the staff kitchen; food business not registered with the HSE; food held at unsafe ambient temperatures; cigarette butts noted in the food preparation area in old food containers; the ponding of a grey sludge-like material from the discharge pipe which may serve as an attractant for pests; unidentifiable food stored in plastic shopping bags in a chest freezer; floors, walls, and ceilings covered in dirt, grime and cobwebs; no labelling on any of the cooked food in the fridge/freezer; staff not demonstrating adequate knowledge of the basic principles of food safety.
Greg Dempsey, chief executive, FSAI, said that November’s Enforcement Orders serve as a reminder that all food businesses must maintain the highest standards of food safety and hygiene at all times and especially during the busy Christmas and New Year periods.
“Consumers have a right to safe food, and there is a personal responsibility on owners, managers, and all employees to comply with food safety legal requirements at all times.
“During the busy festive period, it is especially important that food businesses have proper procedures in place to manage increased demands and pressures.
“All food businesses must comply with their legal requirement to notify the competent authorities prior to operating to ensure there are adequate food safety processes, procedures and facilities in place.”
“Takeaway businesses account for almost a quarter of all businesses served with Enforcement Orders so far in 2025.
“To support this sector, the FSAI has launched a dedicated section on its website for starting and running a takeaway business.
“The resource includes guidance tailored specifically to takeaway operations, highlights the most frequent compliance issues in Ireland, and provides practical advice on how to prevent and control them,” added Mr Dempsey.
Separately, during the month of October one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to a café in Meath.
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 when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
