ALERT: Takeaways in three counties CLOSED down over bad cleaning practices

Takeaways in Dublin, Tipperary and Donegal were among the food businesses closed down in February, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The FSAI has reported that seven Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of February for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.

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Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Universal Food Wholesale Distribution Limited (Wholesaler/ Distributor), Unit B3 National Enterprise Park, Togher, Portlaoise, Laois

Far East (Restaurant/ Café), 339 Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10

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

Day to Day, Hayestown (Retailer), Boyne Road, Hayestown, Navan, Meath

Bombay Kebab House (Take Away), 3 Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary

Tank & Skinny’s @ Number 6 (Restaurant/ Café), Courtyard Shopping Centre, Letterkenny, Donegal

Lams (Take Away), 286 Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10

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

Burren Smokehouse (Fish & Fishery Products Plants – ready to eat fish plants), Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna, Clare

Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in February were: rodent activity; six mouse carcasses on a warehouse floor; rodent droppings on a shelving unit in service counter area; complete lack of cleaning; significant dirt and grease accumulation on food contact surfaces and equipment; no hot water available for washing surfaces and food equipment; absence of a food safety management system; raw chicken stored in previously used chip boxes; crates and boxes containing out-of-date food in storage area; high-risk ready-to-eat foods and other cooked items stored at unsafe temperatures.

Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, stated that vigilance is always required in relation to food safety and that standards must be maintained to ensure that consumer health is not put at risk.

“February’s Enforcement Orders serve as an important reminder that food safety must always be a top priority for all food businesses. Regular checks and adherence to food safety and hygiene standards are essential to protect consumers’ health and maintain public trust. There are no excuses for failing to comply with legal requirements, and any lapse in food safety practices puts consumers at direct risk. Implementing a food safety management system is straightforward, especially with the supports available from the FSAI, yet some businesses continue to neglect this crucial legal requirement. Consumers have a right to safe food and it is imperative that all food businesses uphold the highest standards of food safety and hygiene at all times.”