Dead mice, rodent droppings and mould found in food businesses as five closure orders served in June

Mice activity, rodent droppings and mould growth were just some of the reasons that 5 closure orders were served on food businesses last month.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that a total of seven Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June for breaches of food safety legislation.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Food Safety Authority (FSAI) reported 4 of those orders were served on businesses based in Dublin.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in June included: two mouse carcasses under a sink and under a toilet; a significant amount of rodent droppings under a sink; evidence of rat infestation; inadequate pest proofing; flies walking on cooked chicken; a dead rodent under pallets on the shop floor; raw meat packaging used to store cooked chicken pieces; mould on walls and ceilings; food prepared and handled in a kitchen which was subject to a Closure Order; inability to establish traceability for frozen raw meat; lack of a food safety culture.

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, emphasised that food businesses have a legal obligation to comply with food safety legislation in the interest of public health.

“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.

Food safety legislation is put in place to protect the health of consumers and to uphold the standards of the food industry. We strongly encourage food business operators to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of online resources, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses.”