TWELVE FOOD BUSINESSES were served closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in July, including Lidl and a coffee dock storage unit in Emerald Park, which were both closed due to the presence of rodent droppings.

A mouse ran in front of two environmental health officers while they were inspecting the store room of Lidl on Sallynoggin Road, Co Dublin on 29 July. 

Some of the reasons for the closure orders of other businesses include the presence of dead cockroaches and beetles, lack of handwashing and not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation.

The closure orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI.

Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on:

• Lidl Sallynoggin Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin.
• Creed’s Foodstore Burncourt Cahir, Co. Tipperary
• Brandon Hotel (Closed areas: All kitchen areas including dry goods store, wash up areas, staff canteen, restaurant and stills area.) Prince’s Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• Emerald Park (Closed area: The storage unit located to the rear of “coffee dock” in Emerald Park) Kilbrew Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

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

• Londis Athboy (Closed areas: the deli/food preparation area and ice cream service area) Connaught Street, Athboy, Co. Meath
• KRS Catering Stall (Closed activity: the service of all foods prepared off-site and transported to the venue. Closure does not apply to the sale/service of beverages and foods prepared on-site) Powerstown Park Racecourse, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
• Tim Nessa 2A John’s Street, Co. Limerick
• Hidden Dojo Asian Street food, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
• Wakami Sushi & Asian, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
• Costa Coffee, 1 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Ballymaguire Foods Unlimited Company, Rathmooney, Lusk, Co. Dublin.

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Timothy Onwuegbusi, 2A John’s Street, Limerick and Emeka Ikebudu, 2A John’s Street, Limerick.

During the inspection of Lidl on Sallynoggin Road, inspectors said a “grave and immediate danger” to food safety was found in the premises, due to the presence of rodent droppings and food debris in multiple locations, including on the shop floor and in the store room where food was kept.

The closure order was lifted on 1 August.

A storage unit in Emerald Park was also closed after rat droppings were found in the unit on 14 July, which also stored food, reusable cups, straws and lids.

Inspectors noted the unit was not pest proof as it had holes in the walls. The closure order was lifted on 15 July.

Costa Coffee on Dawson Street, Co Dublin, was served a closure order due to the presence of rat droppings in the dishwasher room, food store, and customer entrance, on 2 July, which was lifted on 4 July.

Dead cockroaches were found by inspectors on 23 July in a main kitchen under work surfaces and under cooking equipment in Brandon Hotel, Co Kerry. The order was lifted on 25 July.

During an inspection of Wakami Sushi and Asian on 7 July, in Phibsborough, Co Dublin, inspectors noted that the food business did not provide adequate means for staff to wash hands in the kitchen, with one sink not having soap or a towel.

They noted infrequent handwashing in the kitchen and said owners and staff were not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation.

FSAI chief Greg Dempsey, said “recent foodborne incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for food businesses to maintain the highest food safety standards.”

“Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they purchase is safe, and food businesses have a clear legal and moral responsibility to ensure that it is. The Enforcement Orders issued this month reflect serious, preventable breaches of food safety law,” he said.

“Every food business must take its responsibility to comply with food safety law seriously. The FSAI can provide support and advice to food businesses to help them meet their obligations. However, as demonstrated by the enforcement actions this month, where food businesses do not comply with their obligations, we will take action.”