Empty pasta bags containing mouse droppings and raw chicken left on top of lettuce were among the reasons for closure orders served on Irish food businesses in the month of May.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed that eight enforcement orders were served on food businesses last month for breaches of food safety legislation. Seven closure orders were handed out and one improvement order was issued.
While the majority of businesses faced with orders were in Dublin, there were other businesses issued with orders in Limerick and Cork.
READ MORE: Four enforcement orders served on businesses in Ireland for food past use-by date and unsafe storage
Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders served in May include a container of cooked chicken left on a dirty sink near pools of blood, raw chicken left on top of lettuce, surfaces encased in a thick layer of dirt and grease as well as multiple cases of rodent infestations, with empty pasta bags containing mouse droppings and a rodent caught in a trap.
Other reasons include inadequate pest-proofing with a high number of possible entry points, sushi not being prepared safely, a lack of appropriate handwashing procedures and no sterilisation of food containers following use.
Furthermore, businesses were shut due to food thawed at unsafe temperatures, a lack of necessary handwashing facilities, foodstuffs stored without date or name labels, trays of cooked rice stored without a label and pepperoni slices and other pizza toppings stored uncovered and staff not being properly trained and lacking clean and appropriate clothing.
Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Long Thanh, 14 North Strand Road, Dublin
- Saint Ita's Hospital (Closed area: Seascapes Restaurant only), Portrane Road, Portrane, Co. Dublin
- O Riordan's Bar (Closed area: two dry goods/cold storerooms off the bar), Main Street Coachford, Cork
- New Century, 6 Prospect Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Maneki, 43 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
- KFC, 16 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2
- Kebabish, Main Street, Bruree, Limerick
One Improvement Order was served on:
- Little Neros, The Square, Abbeyfeale, Limerick
Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that food businesses must take care to prepare, store and defrost foods at appropriate temperatures.
She said: “Care should be taken when preparing all foods, particularly for high-risk foods like sushi which needs specific food safety controls.
“Improper defrosting of food has been noted by Environmental Health Officers. Defrosting should only be undertaken in refrigerators, as otherwise, bacteria can multiply at room temperatures.”
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