Authorities order closure of 16 food premises in July

Seventeen food safety enforcement orders were issued against various premises in July, the third highest number ever distributed in one month during the 16-year history of the system.

Figures published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on Thursday show that 16 of those orders were for closures, the most serious, as well as one prohibition order which prevents the sale of a particular food product.

July’s figures include takeaways and restaurants, as well as an off-licence, hotel, retailers and a food packing facility.

"Unfortunately we continue to encounter cases where consumers' health is put at risk through a failure to comply with food safety and hygiene requirements," said Dr Pamela Byrne, FSAI chief executive.

Among those businesses issued with closure orders were Molloys public house on Talbot Street, Dublin; La Trattoria restaurant in Stone Court, Roscommon; the Blackwater Lodge Hotel in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford and Lisa's Trattoria restaurant in Terenure, Dublin.

Nine of the closure orders were issued under the FSAI Act 1998 where there is deemed to be "a grave or immediate danger to public health" or where an improvement order is not adhered to. Seven other orders were issued under EC (Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. Both are considered very serious.

Of the 17 orders issued, just three premises remain closed.

In one case - the Castlemill Roma take away at Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, Co Dublin - the order was lifted on the same day following requisite amendments.

While the FSAI publishes lists of those who receive the various enforcement orders from Health Service Executive (HSE) inspectors, it does not give specific details as to why they were issued.

The highest ever number of enforcement orders given in one month stands at 19, in May 2013. This was followed by 18 in October, 2012. While 17 orders last month is the third highest, this was previously recorded in both July and August of 2013.

“These breaches are completely avoidable when food businesses have proper food safety management system in place,” said Dr Byrne.

“Food safety must be paramount. This requires greater focus to safeguard against standards slipping and to ensure that food served is safe to eat.”

Nine Closure Orders served under the FSAI Act, 1998 include:

Mad Cow Milkshakes, Burgers & Kebabs (take away), 1 Annamoe Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 (since lifted).

Bay Fish and Chips (restaurant), Main Street, Liscannor, Clare

Molloys public house, 59 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 (since lifted).

Casa De Burritos restaurant, Unit C, Woodquay, Ennis, Clare (since lifted).

Rockin Joe's restaurant, 115 O'Connell St, Limerick (since lifted).

The Ice Box - Balbriggan (off licence), Castlemill Shopping Centre, Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, Co Dublin (sine lifted).

Spring Chinese Restaurant, 83 Main Street, Mallow, Cork (since lifted).

The Crescent View Restaurant, Crescent Quay, Wexford (since lifted).

CFM Catering Limited (food packers), Knockhouse, Gracedieu, Waterford (since lifted).

Seven Closure Orders served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 include:

Tropicway Wholesale/Retail (grocery) (closed activity: decanting, blending & packaging of foodstuffs in the first floor room), 9-10 Academy Street, Navan, Meath (first of two Closure Orders served on Tropicway Wholesale/Retail in July).

Tropicway Wholesale/Retail (grocery), 9-10 Academy Street, Navan, Meath (second of two Closure Orders served on Tropicway Wholesale/Retail in July).

Lisa’s Trattoria restaurant, 81 Terenure Road North, Terenure, Dublin 6W.

Castlemill Roma Take Away, Unit 7, Castlemill Shopping Centre, Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, County Dublin (since lifted).

La Trattoria restaurant, Stone Court, Roscommon Town, Roscommon (since lifted).

Blackwater Lodge Hotel (closed activity: all food preparation and service activities in and from the kitchen and ancillary areas), The Square, Blackwater, Enniscorthy, Wexford (since lifted).

Jojo’s Chinese Restaurant, 104 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 (since lifted).

Prohibition Order served under the FSAI Act, 1998:

Gary Creaven Fish Sales (wholesaler), Menlo, Galway.