Three Chinese takeaways were among five establishments who had action taken against them by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month.
The Curry House takeaway in Mayfield, Co Cork, and the Manor Inn, Naas, Co Kildare, were both served with closure orders by the authority in March. Closure orders are only issued when there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health on the premises, according to the FSAI.
A further three Chinese restaurants were served with improvement orders last month.
The Thanh Cong Chinese takeaway in Clonshaugh, Co Dublin, the China House takeaway at Clanbrassil Street, Dublin, and the Evergreen Chinese takeaway in Barrack Street, Cork, were all taken to court for non-compliance with improvement notices.
"Sixty per cent of closure orders are from the service sector and a very high proportion of takeaways are Chinese," said a spokeswoman for the FSAI.
Asked why takeaways so frequently offended, she said the authority was aware of the increase in improvement notices and orders against takeaways, "but we don't know why that is. These are routine checks against all establishments, the takeaways are not being targeted."
Out of 50 closure orders served against businesses since December 1999, 12 have been against takeaways. Since December 2000, 11 out of 18 improvement orders have been against takeaways.
Improvement notices are served when the FSAI considers the handling, preparation of food or condition of the premises are likely to pose a threat to public health. Non-compliance with an improvement notice will lead to an improvement order.
Meanwhile, a campaign to raise awareness of food safety in the home is being launched this weekend in response to the preliminary findings of a food safety and personal hygiene survey carried out by Teagasc and the National Food Centre.
The food-poisoning bacterium staphlococcus aureus was found in four out of 10 fridges, while 6 per cent contained E.coli and 7 per cent had salmonella present.
Listeria which can grow at low temperatures was found in 6 per cent of fridges. "We were very surprised to see that most people in Ireland do not know the correct temperature to operate the fridge at, below 5 degrees Celsius," said Mr Barney Whelan of Safefood.