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THE FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY issued 14 closure orders to food business last month for breaches of food legislation, with almost a quarter being takeaway food businesses.
Six of the 14 closure orders were served to businesses in Dublin, with two closure orders served to Meath businesses and two to Tipperary businesses; there was one closure order in each of Kerry, Leitrim, Wicklow and Mayo.
The FSAI’s chief executive Greg Dempsey said last month’s closure orders serve as a reminder to food businesses to maintain the highest standards of food safety and hygiene, particularly in the busy Christmas period.
Eight closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Six closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
There were a number of reasons for the closures last month, most relating to hygiene and pest control issues within some of the businesses.
Big Johns takeaway on Main Street, Upper Mohill, Co Leitrim received a closure order on 20 November after an inspector noted that there was rodent activity in the premises. On the date of the inspection, the environmental health officer noted the disturbance of bait in bait boxes in the sluice room adjacent to the food production area.
The inspector determined the business was not adequately proofed against pests.
The order was lifted on 21 November.
United Foods at 76 Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin, a distributor and wholesaler, was issued with a closure order on 14 November after an active cockroach infestation was discovered by the FSAI inspector.
The inspector wrote in their report: “Live moving cockroaches and dead cockroaches were visible in the staff kitchen. The staff kitchen opens directly into a food warehouse”.
The order was lifted on 20 November.
Umami, also based at 76 Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin received the same order on 14 November. The order was also lifted on 20 November.
At The Glendalough Hotel in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, which was closed on 5 November, the inspector said there was a rodent infestation in the main food preparation area, evidenced by droppings throughout the area. An old rodent carcass was also found in the bar.
The order was lifted on 7 November.
A dead rodent was also found in a room in the building at the rear of Coffee Shack Station Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo, which is being used as a food store. It was closed on 27 November and no notice of the order being lifted has been published.
An inspector found a dead rodent, rodent droppings and insufficient pest proofing at the site.
At Enzos on 87 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, where a closure order was imposed on 28 November, an inspector found that food was not kept at the correct temperatures, and lettuce was being kept in dirty and defective containers.
Food was also stored incorrectly, with the inspector noting in their report, that the restaurant was “holding food in open trays and containers throughout the premises in areas that have not been designated for that purpose”.
No notice of the order being lifted has been published.
Akanchawa Honey Pot, Unit 39, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Blanchardstown in Dublin 15 was issued with a closure order on 27 November.
It was found to have dirty surfaces, equipment and touch points, and poor levels of cleaning and hygiene.
The closure order was lifted on 2 December.
At The Mekong, 307 Swords Road, Santry, Dublin 9, a closure order was issued on 10 November after cigarette butts were found in the food preparation area, in old food containers and in the staff toilet bin.
Cooked breaded chicken was also being cooled in the raw chicken cardboard packaging, posing “a serious risk of cross contamination”.
The order was lifted on 13 November.
Cruncheez on Cavan Road, Oldcastle, Meath was closed on 6 November after an inspector was told that chicken with a strong odour stored in the fridge had been there for three weeks.
Kebab meat had also been stored at an unsuitable temperature overnight and used again the following day.
The order was lifted on 12 November.
Rodent droppings were also found at Bodega Cafe Inspire at Unit 12M, Ard Gaoithe Business Park, Cashel Road, Clonmel, Tipperary, which was closed on 12 November.
The order was lifted on 14 November.
The storage room and back bar area of The Bridge House based at the corner of Persses-Lot & Main St (N74), Golden, Tipperary were closed on 19 November.
An inspector found rodent droppings and a mouse carcass were in the storage room and back bar area.
The order was lifted on 20 November.
Two rodents were found under a fridge at McHales Catering Base and Stretford End Bar, where the main kitchen and all storage areas behind the kitchen including food storage and food preparation areas were closed on 24 November.
The inspector also noted that the “floors, walls, ceilings [were] covered in dirt, grim, cobwebs” and “mould growth [was] evident on equipment”.
The order was lifted on 25 November.
A.M.K Sushi at Moynalty Road, Kells, Meath was closed on 21 November after it was found to be an unregistered business operating out of a domestic kitchen.
It was ordered to close its premises and delete its social media and online presence.
Notice that the closure order had been lifted was not published at time of publication.
Benny’s Kitchen based in Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15 was also closed on 21 November.
An inspector found it was also based out of a domestic premisis and that the operator “was storing high risk food in a fridge and freezer in her bedroom along with cooking utensils and food contact material”.
Notice that the closure order had been lifted was not published at time of publication.
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