LATEST: Enforcement orders served on food businesses in Tipperary
Breaches of food safety legislation recorded
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served twelve Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders on food businesses, including two in Tipperary, during the month of March for breaches of food safety legislation.
A Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Arsh Bazzar (Closed area: Butcher area) (Retailer), 6 Mary Street, Clonmel.
A Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Al-Eman Halal Shop Limited (Butcher Shop/Retailer), 21 Irishtown, Clonmel.
Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in March are active cockroach infestation; dead cockroaches noted inside a fridge; evidence of rodent activity; dead mouse in a cockroach trap; rodent droppings under the sink area; meat being air- dried in a bedroom; no suitable hand-washing facilities available to food workers; no hot water or soap for hand washing; cleaning materials stored in dirty stagnant water; thick waste discharge covering an entire floor in a kitchen; equipment observed to be heavily soiled and in an unclean condition; insufficient traceability information; no food safety management system or procedures in place for food safety; no commercial documents or other suitable records to establish the traceability of the foods.
Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reminded food businesses of the importance of having proper food safety management systems in place:
“It is disappointing that we continue to see enforcement action being necessary due to fundamental breaches. Inspectors are finding recurring incidents of pest infestations and unhygienic practices in food businesses. These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place. Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat”.
“If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form at www.fsai.ie/makeitbetter.
"Reporting inappropriate and unsafe food practices provides us with information that we can act upon. 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.