Eight food businesses closed for breaches in June

Eight food businesses were closed across the State last month for breaches in food legislation.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported eight closure orders, two prohibition orders and one improvement order were served in June.

Four restaurants, a take away, a food stall, a grocery store and a manufacturer in counties Dublin, Cork, Wicklow, Wexford, Clare and Offaly were served closure orders by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Three of the closure orders were served under the FSAI Act where it is deemed that there is a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises.

The other five were issued under the EC (Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. Both are considered very serious.

Among the businesses closed during the month were the Piece of Cake food stall in Temple Bar Market in Dublin 2 for the storage of foodstuffs likely to support the growth of pathogens, The New Leaf Restaurant in Tallaght, Dublin 24 and Son of a Bun in McCurtain St, Cork city.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said it was not acceptable for food businesses to potentially put consumers' health at risk.

“By law, food businesses should at all times produce or serve food that is safe to eat,” she said.

“Negligent practices cannot and will not be tolerated. The onus is on every food business to have a food safety management system in place, which assists in identifying and controlling hazards that could pose a danger in the preparation of safe food.”

Five of the closure orders were lifted for the food businesses during the month.

During the month the FSAI successfully prosecuted Keelaghan Wholesale Meats Ltd, a cutting plant in Ashbourne Industrial Estate, Ashbourne, Co Meath. The business was convicted on six summonses and issued with a total fine of €16,000.

Three closure orders was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

* Son of a Bun restaurant in 29 McCurtain St, Cork city.

* Lebanese Kitchen, a manufacturer and packer, in unit 97 Millennium Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

*The Holy Grail Restaurant on 13 Market Square, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Five closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

*New Dynasty Chinese takeaway at Clarecastle, Co Clare

*Bingo Polish Market grocery in 4 Main St Upper, Arklow, Co Wicklow. The closed area was the raw meat counter and ready to eat deli sections.

*New Yaadgar restaurant and canteen in Esker Court, William St, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

*The New Leaf Restaurant, Tallaght Retail Centre, High St, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

*Piece of Cake food stall on Meeting House Sq, Temple Bar Market, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

A prohibition order is issued if activities involved a serious risk to public health from a particular product, class, batch or item of food.

One prohibition order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

*Gammells restaurant in 33 Ranelagh, Dublin 6

One prohibition order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

*Lebanese Kitchen, manufacturer and packer in unit 97, Millennium Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

One improvement order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

*Express Pizza take away in 6 Lord Edward St, Co Limerick

Full details of the enforcement orders and the dates they were lifted, if applicable, are available on fsai.ie