Food « Thurles Information

FSAI Recall Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert.

FSAI recall specific batches of Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert due to the possible presence of plastic pieces.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, April 9th 2026.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2026.13.
Product Identification: Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert; pack size – 538g.
Batch Code: All best before date codes up to and including April 2027.
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom.

Message: The above batches of Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert are being recalled due to the possible presence of small pieces of clear plastic from the packaging. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in Tesco stores.

Action Required:
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

FSAI Recall Salmonella Infected Pettitt’s Basil & Pesto Chicken Fillets.

Recall of a batch of Pettitt’s Cook at Home Basil & Pesto Chicken Fillets due to the presence of Salmonella.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, April 9th 2026.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2026.12.
Product Identification: Pettitt’s Cook at Home Basil & Pesto Chicken Fillets; pack size: 380g.
Batch Code Use by: 30/03/2026.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message: The above batch of Pettitt’s Cook at Home Basil & Pesto Chicken Fillets is being recalled due to the presence of Salmonella. Although the implicated batch is past its use by date, the product is suitable for home freezing. Consumers are therefore advised to check their freezers for the implicated batch.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger:

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between 6 and 72 hours. The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody.
Other symptoms may include fever, headache and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Action Required:
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

New Chapter For One19 Coffee – Thurles Awaits Opening Tomorrow Morning, April 8th 2026.

On any given weekday in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, the now-familiar sight of a queue outside One19 Coffee House tells its own story; a story of quality, community, and something special quietly brewing.

What began as a modest takeaway coffee spot has grown into a thriving café culture hub, serving everything from expertly crafted coffee to fresh sandwiches, cakes, and vibrant açaí bowls. Over time, it has evolved into a destination, drawing loyal customers, not just from the Templemore area, but from Thurles and across the county.

And Now… Thurles Welcomes One19.
Tomorrow, April 8th, 2026, marks the beginning of a new chapter.

In the beautifully restored Market 54 area, just southeast of The Source Arts Centre building on Cathedral Street, One19 Coffee opens its doors once more, this time bringing its unmistakable charm to the heart of Thurles. There’s something quietly romantic about it; a café that once drew people away from Thurles, now finally arrives to meet them where they are living.

A Place for Mornings, Middays & Moments:
From the very first light of day tomorrow, One19 Thurles will hum with life.
Open 7 days a week.
Weekdays: 7:30am – 5:00pm.
Weekends: Slightly reduced, slower-paced hours.

Just like its Templemore home, it will offer:
Freshly prepared breakfasts and lunches.
Artisan coffee brewed with care.
Sweet treats, light bites and wholesome options.
A space to pause, meet, and simply be.

More Than A Coffee Shop.
This isn’t just another opening, it feels like a natural continuation of something already loved.
A café built on: Community spirit – Consistency and quality and the simple pleasure of a really good cup of coffee.

Now set against the old historic great famine stonework and the renewed energy of Thurles’ Market Quarter, “One19” is poised to become not just a stop, but a regular supported destination.

Final Thought.
Where once people travelled for One19; now One19 comes to them.
And from tomorrow morning, as the doors open and the first coffees are poured, Thurles will gain something more than a café, it will gain a new gathering place.

Inland Fisheries Ireland – From “Leading Light” To Governance Crisis.

Why Accountability Must Now Rest at the Top of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Once held up as a model of best practice, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is now facing one of the most serious governance controversies in recent Irish public sector history. So what went wrong, and how did it go unchecked for so long?

A Reputation Built on Safety Leadership
Back in 2018, IFI stood as a benchmark for excellence. The organisation earned national recognition for its fleet safety standards, with its Logistics Manager receiving a prestigious Road Safety Authority “Leading Light” award. Alongside this, IFI secured a “Van Safe” award, reflecting strong operational controls across a fleet of approximately 200 vehicles supporting critical environmental and enforcement work.
At the time, IFI wasn’t just compliant; it was leading.

A Very Different Picture Emerges
Fast forward to recent years, and that reputation has been fundamentally challenged. Investigations by the Comptroller and Auditor General and scrutiny from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have revealed deep-rooted issues, raising serious questions about governance, transparency, and leadership.

The Uninsured Vehicle Incident
At the centre of the controversy is a 2021 road collision in County Donegal involving an IFI vehicle that was not insured. The fallout has been significant, with the employee involved not informed that the vehicle lacked insurance and An Garda Síochána not notified of the issue.
The employee only discovered the truth later through legal correspondence.
Even more concerning, multiple uninsured vehicles were also identified during the same period

Misleading Information and “Drip-Feeding” of Facts.
IFI’s engagement with oversight bodies has also come under sharp criticism.
The PAC was told that the organisation provided “inaccurate” evidence, while committee members raised alarm about incomplete disclosures and a pattern of withholding information. This has led to serious concerns about credibility at senior levels.

A Breakdown in Governance.
What initially appeared to be an isolated incident has instead exposed systemic failures.
A “near-total collapse of governance” was highlighted during PAC hearings. Internal controls were found to be inadequate, undermining confidence in IFI’s operations. Governance issues have persisted for years, prompting multiple investigations and repeated committee hearings. In short, this is not a one-off error, it is a structural problem.

Potential Legal and Financial Consequences.
The implications extend beyond governance. A protected disclosure report linked to the incident has, we understand, been referred to the Garda Commissioner. The uninsured collision alone resulted in repair costs of approximately €230,000. However, the reputational cost may be even greater.

Where the Responsibility Lies.
It is increasingly difficult to view these failures as administrative oversights.
Instead, they point to:-

A breakdown in risk management.
A failure of duty of care toward staff.
A lack of transparency with statutory oversight bodies.

And most critically, a failure of leadership at senior management and board level. These are the individuals responsible for ensuring compliance, safeguarding employees, and maintaining public trust. Yet, as PAC hearings have shown, confidence in IFI’s leadership has been significantly eroded, with elected representatives openly questioning the organisation’s honesty and competence.

Rebuilding Trust: What Must Happen Next.
IFI now faces a defining moment. Restoring credibility will require more than procedural fixes, it demands decisive action:-

Clear accountability at senior level.
Full transparency with oversight bodies and the public.
Structural reform to prevent recurrence.

Without these steps, trust cannot, and will not, be restored.

Final Thought.
The contrast is stark. From a “leading light” in road safety, to an organisation under scrutiny for governance failures, uninsured vehicles, and misleading disclosures.
The real question now is not just how this happened, but why it was allowed to continue for so long without intervention at the highest levels.

Control Of Listeria monocytogenes In Production Of Ready-To-Heat Meals.

FSAI publishes guidance for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in the production of ready-to-heat meals.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today published a new Guidance Note, Control of Listeria monocytogenes and Ensuring Food Safety in the Production of Certain Cook/Chilled Ready-To-Heat Meals, providing practical recommendations to help food businesses strengthen their food safety management systems and better detect and control Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness that can have significant impacts on health, particularly in older people, people with certain existing medical conditions and pregnant women. The guidance was issued as part of the FSAI’s ongoing response to recent outbreaks of listeriosis, including the outbreak in Ireland in 2025 and one in the United States the same year, both linked to ready-to-heat meals. These outbreaks of listeriosis highlight the risks associated with these products, if effective food safety controls are not in place.

Ready-to-heat meals are fully cooked during manufacturing but still require thorough cooking by consumers to make them safe before consumption. Although these products are not classified as ready-to-eat foods under EU legislation, food businesses have a responsibility to ensure all food placed on the market is safe to eat. The FSAI advises that certain types of ready-to-heat meals* can still pose significant risks if contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes despite carrying instructions for cooking by the consumer.

Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “Listeriosis is a rare but potentially serious infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which poses a particular risk to older people, people with certain existing medical conditions, and pregnant women. It is essential that consumers ensure that they handle these ready-to-heat meals as instructed on the pack and cook them thoroughly until piping hot, and in line with manufacturer’s instructions.”

“Protecting consumers from foodborne illness is a fundamental responsibility for all food businesses. This guidance highlights the importance of a proactive approach to controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-heat meals. Food businesses must consider how these products are likely to be used in practice and ensure that appropriate controls are in place throughout the production process. By strengthening food safety management systems to better control Listeria monocytogenes, there will be less reliance on adequate cooking of the product by the consumer to make these products safe. We encourage all relevant food businesses to review this guidance and implement the recommended practices.”

The new guidance reminds food businesses that Listeria monocytogenes is a hazard that must be controlled during the production of these foods. The guidance will support the safe and consistent production, storage, handling and labelling of ready-to-heat meals. It emphasises that food businesses must take account of the “reasonably foreseeable use” of these products, recognising that some consumers do not always handle or fully cook them, as required by the manufacturer’s instructions on the pack.

The FSAI states that Listeria monocytogenes can survive and persist in food processing environments and may contaminate food after cooking, if effective hygiene and environmental controls are not in place. Ready-to-heat meals containing several components e.g. meat, vegetables, are particularly vulnerable where they are assembled after cooking and exposed to the processing environment prior to final packaging. If contaminated at this stage, domestic cooking may not always be sufficient to eliminate the risk, particularly where cooking instructions are not followed.

Guidance Note 46: Control of Listeria monocytogenes and Ensuring Food Safety in the Production of Certain Cook/Chilled Ready-To-Heat Meals