A presence of fresh rat droppings and no traceability of unidentified frozen meats were some of the reasons enforcement orders were served on food businesses last month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.
Ten enforcement orders were served in March to businesses in Dublin, Cork, Offaly, Tipperary and Meath.
Other reasons for the orders included: a lack of adequate and regular cleaning, a continuous failure to maintain consistent cleaning standards, an overflow of foul water in the food preparation area, dirt and debris throughout the premises and a lack of staff training.
Breaches of food safety legislation pose a danger to consumer health, said FSAI Chief Executive Dr Pamela Byrne.
“March saw a high number of Enforcement Orders and some of the reasons listed demonstrate totally inadequate hygiene standards. Consumers have a right to safe food and this legal obligation sits with the food business operators.
“These food businesses are damaging the reputation of the food industry as a whole and can impact the trust that consumers have in the food they eat. Environmental Health Officers, who inspect these food businesses, also continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk particularly through a failure to comply with hygiene requirements, pest control and food safety training requirements, which is unacceptable.”
The businesses served with closure orders were:
Le Chocolat de Frèd, 96 Georges Street Lower, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin.
Shangri La Asian Cuisine, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7.
Super Marios, High Street, Tullamore, Offaly.
Kingdom of Sweets, 15 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2.
Babylon Kebab House, 92-93 Irishtown, Clonmel, Tipperary.
Royal Caterers, Unit 27C, Ashbourne Business Centre, Ballybin Road, Ashbourne, Meath.
The kitchen and kitchen storage area of Cork Oriental Supermarket, 13 Dalton’s Avenue, Cork.
Munch Box, 1 Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Hilan Chinese and Korean BBQ Restaurant, 45 Capel Street, Dublin 1.
A prohibition order was also served on Hilan Chinese and Korean BBQ Restaurant.
