Ten Enforcement Orders served on food businesses in June

The FSAI say that failures like poor hygiene, pest activity, and improper storage are basic errors that can have severe consequences to public health

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that eight Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June 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.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in June included significant number of rodent droppings discovered in a kitchen and in a staff canteen; absence of rodent proofing; significant number of rodent droppings observed in a box containing lids for smoothie cups; no water supply provided for hand washing or to clean and disinfect utensils and to hygienically wash food; lack of adequate and regular cleaning; pooling water from defrosting fish mixed with blood and raw meat on the floor of a walk in chiller; no cleaning agents or detergent for cleaning and sanitising; large quantities of cooked and raw high risk foods stored at incorrect temperatures; food likely contaminated with the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes; inadequate layout, design, size and construction of food preparation area.

Greg Dempsey, chief executive, FSAI, said: “Every food business has a legal responsibility to ensure the food they produce is safe to eat. Failures like poor hygiene, pest activity, and improper storage are basic errors that can have severe consequences to public health. Food safety isn’t optional, it’s essential. While we understand the daily pressures on businesses, food safety and hygiene standards must be maintained at all times. A robust food safety management system not only protects public health, but it also supports the long-term success of the food business. Non-compliance with food law is not tolerated and enforcement action will be taken where standards fall short.”

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.