Some 70 per cent of staff working in food outlets are untrained, according to the preliminary results of a survey being carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Chief executive Dr Patrick Wall said the level of untrained staff was "unacceptable" and encouraged food inspectors and environmental health officers to show no leniency to businesses that ignored legislation.
"The responsibility for training or supervision of staff lies clearly with the proprietor of every food business. There is no excuse for employers in this area to ignore the law."
Dr Wall said this approach, combined with the public's increasing refusal to accept poor service, would drive standards upwards. He was speaking at the announcement of two new courses at UCD on food safety and food handling.