Letterkenny shop closure order - ‘widespread evidence of a mouse infestation’
Mouse droppings were found in the retail, storage and delivery areas of the shop
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued four closure orders nationally in January, including one in Donegal.
Trading as Spiceland (Letterkenny), the business is located at Unit 1, Green Isle Park, Port Road, Ballyraine, Letterkenny.
It was stated in the closure order that it required: “All of the premises be closed LJ All area of (Letterkenny) Spiceland shop including storage and food preparation and service areas associated with the retail activity.”
The reasons for the order were stated as: “ Adequate procedures were not in place to prevent rodents gaining access to the premises.
“There was widespread evidence of a mouse infestation throughout the premises. Mouse droppings were found in the retail, storage and delivery areas of the shop. There was evidence of damage by mice to food and food packaging on the premises.
“On the evidence noted above there is or is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to health.
“The conditions noted could lead to a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption.”
The three other food businesses to receive closure orders in January were in Meath, Dublin and Monaghan.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “To ensure food safety and hygiene, every food business is required by law to have a robust food safety management system and to also ensure that this system is working properly.
“While the majority of those inspected have adequate procedures in place, the fact that Environmental Health Officers continue to find incidents of rodents and pest infestations in some food businesses highlights that a food safety management system is not working.
“Consumers have a right to safe food and food businesses have a legal responsibility to ensure that it is safe to eat.”
To address the issue of pest control, the FSAI is running a free Breakfast Bite webinar on March 1 on managing and monitoring pest control procedures in food businesses. Registration for this webinar can be accessed on the FSAI website at fsai.ie
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.