'Live rodent ran across the floor' - Three food businesses ordered to close last month
Seven enforcement orders were issued by the FSAI in August
Three food businesses were forced to shut their doors in August for reasons relating to hygiene, pest control and a live rodent that was seen by an inspector running across the floor during an inspection.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers in the Food Safety Authority (FSAI) served three Closure Orders and four Prohibition Orders on food businesses during the month of August 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.
Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Mini India (Service Sector), 28 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2
- Bartkus Uncle Meat Limited (Small meat manufacturing plant), Corragarry, Canningstown, Cavan
- Darkey Kelly's (Public House), 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
Four Prohibition Orders were served under European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020:
- One was on Live5D Health Ltd (Health Food Shop/ Pharmacy/ Sports Nutrition), Riverside Offices, Bridge Street, Boyle, Roscommon
- Two were on Live5D Health (Health Food Shop/ Pharmacy/ Sports Nutrition), Riverside Offices, Bridge Street, Boyle, Roscommon
- One was on Live5D Health (under appeal) (Health Food Shop/ Pharmacy/ Sports Nutrition), Riverside Offices, Bridge Street, Boyle, Roscommon
Among the reasons for the Closure Orders in August are: evidence of live and dead cockroaches throughout the food premises; evidence of rodent activity, including rodent droppings, a live rodent observed running across the floor of a cold room and evidence of rodent gnaw marks on food packaging; inadequate standards of cleanliness and maintenance, including a build-up of dirt, grease-covered vents, cobwebs, insects and dead flies throughout a premises; absence of a food safety management system based on HACCP principles; failure to provide adequate hand-washing facilities; failure to ensure food workers were adequately supervised, instructed and/or trained in food hygiene; food business had not been registered or approved by a competent authority.
Commenting today, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said:
“It is concerning to see such serious deficiencies in basic food safety controls in these Closure Orders, particularly the evidence of significant pest activity and poor standards of hygiene and maintenance. Consumers have a right to safe food.
“Food businesses must have effective measures in place to prevent pests gaining access to food premises and must maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all times. These cases also highlight the importance of having an effective food safety management system in place, supported by properly trained staff and appropriate hygiene facilities.
“Food safety controls must work in practice, every day, to protect consumers. Where businesses fail to meet their legal responsibilities and food safety is compromised, enforcement action is necessary to protect public health when it comes to food safety.”
“We strongly encourage food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses,” added Mr Dempsey.
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.