OCTOBER SAW THE most enforcement orders issued in 10 years on food businesses.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said that 12 closure orders and six prohibition orders were served on food businesses last month.

Seventeen of the enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive and one by local authority veterinary inspectors in Cork County Council for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

Enforcement orders

Seven closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Chinaman Take Away, Main Street, Oranmore, Galway
• Nirala Sweets (restaurant), 35 Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8
• Slovakpoint (grocery), 5 Lavitt’s Quay, Cork
• The Delight House Take-Away, Main Street, Bruree, Limerick
• Campbell Catering trading as Aramark Ireland, Athlone Accommodation Centre (RIA) restaurant (closed area: kitchen and related areas), Cornamaddy, Athlone, Westmeath
• Pizza House (take-away), Main Street, Ballinlough, Roscommon
• Chilli Kebabish (take-away), 15 Ellen Street, Limerick

Five closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• Jade Dragon (restaurant), The Mall, Westport, Mayo
• Quickshop (delicatessen) (closed area: deli hot food bar), Castleredmond Place, St Mary’s Road, Midleton, Cork
• Lotus Take-Away, 8 Clare Street, Limerick
• China Link (take-away), Main Street, Kiltimagh, Mayo
• The Shamrock Bar (restaurant) (closed area: kitchen), Market Square, Dunmanway, Cork

Four prohibition orders was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Tom Whelan (cold store), Stormy Downs, Windsor Hill, Glounthaune, Co. Cork
• M White & Sons (butcher), Unit 2 Longwalk Shopping Centre, Dundalk, Louth
• Slovakpoint (grocery), 5 Lavitt’s Quay, Cork
• Moldova (supermarket), Coolmine Industrial Estate, Dublin 15

Two prohibition orders was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

• Aisling Foundation (food supplements supplier), Unit 4B Enterprise Centre, Bantry, Cork

Prosecutions

Four successful prosecutions were also taken by the Health Service Executive on:

• Smak Wholesalers Limited, Unit 9 Primside Park, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15
• Alex Kavaliov (employee of Smak Wholesalers Limited), Unit 9 Primside Park, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15
• Mizzoni Pizza (take away), 24 Church Street, Castleisland, Kerry
• Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9

Professor Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI expressed his concern at the high level of non-compliance with food safety regulations, saying it is “extremely disappointing” that the number of orders served was so high in October.

Orders were served on a wide variety of food businesses, in the manufacturing, distribution, retail and catering sectors.  The inspectors found illegal, unhygienic or unsafe foods, with significant breaches of food safety legislation that put people’s health at serious risk.  There’s absolutely no justification for negligence in this area.

He said the legal onus is on food businesses to act responsibly and ensure that the food they serve and sell is safe for consumption.

Cutting your spending on food safety practices can be an expensive mistake, resulting in closure of your business or significant court fines.  Together with the inspectorate, we will not hold back in taking swift action against any food business that fails to meet their legal obligations in this area.

If any food business operator is unsure of what is required of them by law, they can contact the FSAI advice line on 1890 336677 or visit its website www.fsai.ie or facebook page.

Read: 11 closure orders served on businesses in August>