'Dead rats and droppings' - Eleven food businesses across Ireland ordered to close last month

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served eleven Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders on food businesses during the month of October 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.

Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

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• The Crescent Stores (Closed areas: 1. Storeroom 1st floor; 2. Adjoining corridor area) (Retailer), 1 Thomas Street, Clonmel, Tipperary
• Corrib Oil Spar Express Castlerea (Retailer), Patrick Street, Castlerea, Roscommon
• West Wing Restaurant, N17 Business Park, Galway Road, Tuam, Galway
• Kimchi Hop House (Restaurant/ Café), 160 - 161 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Base Wood Fired Pizza (under appeal) (Restaurant/Café), Unit 1, Aldi Centre, Mill Road, Killincarrig, Greystones, Wicklow
• Camile Thai (Service Sector), 5 Dolphin's Barn Street, Dolphin's Barn, Dublin 8
• TOP 3 CHINESE (Restaurant/ Café), 2 Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
• The premises occupied by The Lunch Bag Unlimited Company at Killester, Raheny, Clontarf Educate Together National School (Service Sector), Collins Avenue East, Clontarf West, Dublin 5

Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

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• Diamond Pizza (Restaurant/Café),163 Drumcondra Road Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
• Nua Bia (Service Sector), Poppintree Sports Centre, Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11
• Cellar 22 and Floritz (Closed activities: the activity of vacuum packing ready-to-eat foods in the raw-designated vacuum packing machine and the preparing and serving of raw beef for direct consumption, namely beef tartare must cease immediately) (Restaurant Café), 22 Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

Two Prohibition Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Foodliner Supermarket (Butcher Shop), Main St, Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon
• Lucaci Fast Travel (Retailer), Unit 3, Lagan Road, Cabra East, Dublin 11

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in October include:

Evidence of rodent activity in food handling and storage areas, with rat droppings found in a kitchen and cleaning equipment store, a dead rat discovered under a dishwasher, and mice droppings observed inside presses and drawers storing opened and prepacked foodstuffs, as well as utensils; inadequate pest proofing and a failure to clean and disinfect the premises following the discovery of rodent activity in areas where food and food contact materials were stored; sightings of mice near a delicatessen counter; food handling staff not trained or supervised to an appropriate level; insufficient evidence of an effective food safety management system based on HACCP principles; inadequate procedures for the safe thawing of foodstuffs; a lack of basic cleaning and disinfection of food preparation surfaces and equipment; mould growth and dirt accumulation behind kitchen chill units; the absence of hot water, hand soap and paper towels at wash hand basins; defective drainage systems where grease traps and waste pipes were discharging into open containers and food placed on the market not properly labelled or traceable through appropriate documentation.

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Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said,

“October’s Enforcement Orders once again highlight the importance of maintaining strong food safety and hygiene practices across all food businesses. Issues such as inadequate pest control, poor cleaning standards and unsafe food storage continue to be the main reasons for enforcement action.

“These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place. While the majority of food businesses take their legal responsibilities very seriously, we continue to see a small number of businesses subject to enforcement action, including closure, due to their non-compliances with basic food safety standards.”

“With the busy Christmas period fast approaching, we are reminding food businesses to start preparing now so that they have robust food safety procedures in place to deal with increased demands and pressures on their business. Food safety must always be their top priority,” added Mr Dempsey.

Separately, during the month of October one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to:

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• Riverhouse Café (Restaurant/ Café), 1 Castle Street, Cahir, Tipperary

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.