Food « Thurles Information

Sophie’s Swaps – Shop smarter, Cook Better, Unprocess Your Plate.

Sophie’s Swaps: Simple supermarket swaps and ultra-processed food free recipes to transform your shopping and unprocess your plate by authoress Sophie Morris.

Ms Sophie Morris – health food advocate, food entrepreneur and bestselling cookbook author – has become one of Ireland’s most trusted voices in nutrition. Her straight-talking advice and practical tips have earned the loyalty of hundreds of thousands of followers, as well as the attention of leading retailers. But Sophie has chosen to remain independent, determined to drive real change in the food industry on her own terms.

Something happened to our food in the mid-70s to make it irresistible to people. Why are ultra-processed foods so irresistible, and how they have come to dominate food culture?

We all want to make better food choices. We’ve heard about ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and the risks they pose to our health – but how much do we really know about what’s in our shopping trolley? Between limited time and misleading marketing, it’s easy to fill our kitchens with UPFs without even realising it.

That’s where Sophie comes in. Through her hugely popular supermarket swap posts, she has helped shoppers across Ireland make simple changes that cut down on UPFs without compromising on taste, convenience, or cost.

From ketchup to burgers, granola to curry sauce, Sophie shows you which brands offer healthier, less processed – and often cheaper – options. You’ll be surprised by what you discover.

And for those days when you want to cook from scratch, Sophie shares 50 quick, family-friendly recipes that prove healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated.

With ‘Sophie’s Swaps‘, you’ll learn how to shop smarter, cook better, and unprocess your plate – one simple swap at a time.

Rodent Droppings Lead To Closure of McDonald’s Storage Unit.

Rodent Droppings Lead to Closure of McDonald’s Storage Unit in Drogheda.

A storage unit at McDonald’s in Drogheda, Co Louth, has been served with a closure order by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) after rodent droppings were discovered on shelving and food equipment.

An FSAI inspector’s report found that cleaning agents and disinfectants intended for use on food equipment were also stored in the same area, leaving them vulnerable to contamination.
The unit was also described as inadequately pest-proofed.

The closure order applied specifically to the storage unit at the side of the McDonald’s premises on The Waterfront, Rathmullen Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

Separately, here in Thurles, Co Tipperary, An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld planning permission for a new McDonald’s Burger outlet. The restaurant is expected to be erected on the south side of Lidl Supermarket, along the Clongour Road leading out of Thurles town.

In all the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served eight Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order on food businesses during the month of August for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

Undeclared Sulphites In Royal Orient Palm Sugar Batch.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Warns of undeclared sulphites in a batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar.

Alert Summary dated Friday, September 5th 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A31.
Allergens: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
Product Identification: Royal Orient Palm Sugar; pack sizes: 500g and 454g.
Batch Code: Best before date: 21/03/2027.
Country Of Origin: Thailand.

Message: The above batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar contains sulphites which is not mentioned on the label.
This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of sulphites and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch.
The affected batch has now been recalled.

Garden of Eden Baby Spinach & Mixed Baby Leaf Products Recalled Due To Listeria.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland recall various batches of Garden of Eden Baby Spinach & Mixed Baby Leaf products, due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Friday September 5th, 2025

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2025.48.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: Ireland and United Kingdom.

Message: The below batches of Spinach and Mixed Baby Leaf are being recalled by Garden of Eden due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Product name.	Pack sizes.	Batch codes.
Baby Spinach.	100g, 200g & 500g.	F2776, F2786.
Mixed Baby Leaf.	100g & 500g.	0805B, 0805P, 0805R, 0805Y.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers and Retailers:
Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Caterers: Same should not use the implicated batches.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

‘One19 Coffee’ May Be Coming To Thurles.

Notice has been given in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, pursuant to powers contained in Section 211 of the planning & Development Act 2000, with regards to the disposal of property known as Thurles Market Place, Cathedral Street, Thurles, which is now set for consideration at a meeting of the Council on Monday next, September 8th, 2025.

**Up-to-date** **state of Thurles Market Place, currently under construction.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

We understand that Tipperary Co. Council sought submissions from interested parties to operate a Cafe within the soon to be fully developed/completed ‘Thurles Market Quarter‘ area.
Same was part of a regeneration initiative, funded through the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF begun in 2019), and was designed to enhance the vibrancy, in this case Thurles town, which over the past 4 years has lost over 60% of its footfall, through poor forced planning.
Following an assessment of submissions by the Council it is now recommended that ‘One19 Coffee’ be awarded the contract under a 5 year lease period.

One19 Coffee.
On any given weekday, as you drive through Templemore Town, you will be greeted by the sight of people queuing outside of ‘One19 Coffee‘. What began as a small coffee shop, has successfully expanded to offer cakes, snacks, sandwiches, açaí bowls (latter a thick, smoothie-like nutrient-rich fruit treat made from pureed and frozen açaí berries), together with a wide range of other ‘light bites’.
It now enjoys a devoted and ever-growing customer base, with young and old traveling from Thurles and indeed all over Tipperary, to enjoy great coffee and quality food.

Today we just learned that a coffee and light bite from ‘One19 Coffee’ may no longer require a trip to Templemore. In a move that many will welcome, ‘One19 Coffee’ may soon open its doors in Thurles, in the old re-constructed stone 1849 shed building on Cathedral Street in the town.

The quality reputation of ‘One19’ will surely boost footfall to the Thurles Town Park, if confirmed. If ‘One19’ are successful they will rent this stone building at a cost of €1,750:00 per month and will commit to signing a 5 year lease.

Who wouldn’t agree that this seems great in theory?
In terms of local development, ‘One19’ coupled with an attractive albeit costly canopy roofed marketplace yet to be completed and paid for by taxpayer funding; same is arguably positive steps in the right direction.

Nevertheless, as they say in real estate circles, a property’s worth boils down to three things – location, location, location!
‘One19 Coffee’ in Templemore has greatly benefited from its prime location near one of Tipperary’s most beautiful parks. Latter is meticulously landscaped and looked after; boasting a recently upgraded playground, Templemore Park is indeed a tourist attraction in and of itself.

The Playground in Thurles Town Park is also enjoyed daily and is adjacent to an excellent Library, Theatre and Leisure Centre. Although all these man-made structures are attractive (the permanently closed skating park being the exception), in contrast to Templemore the natural surroundings in Thurles Town Park are seen as sorely neglected; even abandoned; polluted and smells to high heaven, caused by a lack of action on the part of Council Officials.

Time now to call on Tipperary County Council to see this project to a successful end and once and for all invest funding to clean up the river and develop the riverside walk.

At a minimum can the rent from ‘One19 Coffee’ and funds raised from other market and festival events being paid for by taxpayers, be reinvested in Thurles and not simply disappear back into the coffers of Tipperary County Council.

Wouldn’t we all relish the sight of happy families and customers queuing for food and enjoying the beauty of a revitalised River Suir and Riverside walk? Here’s hoping it will be part of our near future.