Health « Thurles Information

FSAI Serve One Prohibition & One Closure Order On Two Tipperary Retailers.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served twelve Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders on food businesses during the month of March 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.

Two Prohibition Orders (one in Tipperary) were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
♦Al-Eman Halal Shop Limited (Butcher Shop/Retailer), 21 Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary .
Pinoy Sari Sari (Retailer), 25-26 Mary Street, Dublin City.

Four Closure Orders (one in Tipperary) were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
♦ Arsh Bazzar (Closed area: Butcher area) (Retailer), 6 Mary Street, Clonmel, Tipperary.
Bruno Gomes (Wholesaler/ Distributor), A food business in operation from a domestic dwelling at Ferndale, Navan, Meath.
Mars Pizza (Take Away), Coolbeg, Kildimo, Limerick.
Meet Brazil (Closed area: the kitchen area upstairs serving the restaurant and take away. The retail area downstairs can remain open.) (Retailer), Castle Hill, Enniscorthy, Wexford.

Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Kebab House 66 (Service Sector), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Georgian Delight (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 3, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Dailo Nepali Kitchen (Restaurant/ Café), Kitchen 4, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Tiramisu Mania (Manufacturer), Moore Street Mall, 58 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Spicy Bite (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 1, Moore Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1
Glanmore Foods Limited, Grange Community College (Service Sector), Grange Abbey Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
Eskimo Pizza Bandon (Closed area: the potato peeling room at the rear of the premises) (Take Away), 1 St Patrick’s Quay, Bandon, Cork.
Eurospar (Retailer), 25-27 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3.

Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in March are: active cockroach infestation; dead cockroaches noted inside a fridge; evidence of rodent activity; dead mouse in a cockroach trap; rodent droppings under the sink area; meat being air dried in a bedroom; no suitable hand washing facilities available to food workers; no hot water or soap for hand washing; cleaning materials stored in dirty stagnant water; thick waste discharge covering an entire floor in a kitchen; equipment observed to be heavily soiled and in an unclean condition; insufficient traceability information; no food safety management system or procedures in place for food safety; no commercial documents or other suitable records to establish the traceability of the foods.

Commenting today, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reminded food businesses of the importance of having proper food safety management systems in place:
“It is disappointing that we continue to see enforcement action being necessary due to fundamental breaches. Inspectors are finding recurring incidents of pest infestations and unhygienic practices in food businesses. These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place. Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat.”

“If anyone experiences unfit food, poor hygiene standards or notices a breach of food law in a food business, we encourage them to contact us via our online complaint form at www.fsai.ie/makeitbetter. Reporting inappropriate and unsafe food practices provides us with information that we can act upon. We strongly encourage food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses,” added Mr Dempsey.

Separately, during the month of March one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to:
Sheela Palace Foodstall (Trading at Kerala House Carnival, Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, Co Meath) Vela, Liffey Valley Complex, Dublin 22.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.

Ambulance Staff Set For Strike Action In Escalating Pay Dispute.

The Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) has formally notified the National Ambulance Service (NAS) of planned strike action next month, marking a significant escalation in a long-running dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over pay and working conditions.

Around 2,000 SIPTU members working across the ambulance service in Ireland, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and supervisors, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including full strike action.

The planned industrial action will begin with a 24-hour strike on 12 May, followed by a 48-hour stoppage starting on 19 May and a 72-hour stoppage from 26 May. Further strikes are also scheduled for June.

In addition, a work-to-rule will commence on 11 May, meaning staff will not cooperate with new procedures or changes introduced by management.

The dispute centres on the HSE’s failure to implement recommendations from an independent review published in 2020, which called for updated salary scales to reflect the increased responsibilities and workload of ambulance staff over the past two decades.

According to SIPTU, ambulance personnel now provide a far higher level of pre-hospital care than in the past, requiring additional training, qualifications and clinical decision making. The union argues that despite these expanded duties,including a significant increase in medication administration, staff pay and grading structures have not been updated to reflect these changes.

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.

URGENT APPEAL: Blood Donors Needed.

URGENT APPEAL: Blood Donors Needed As Stocks Fall Critically Low Across Ireland.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is urgently appealing for blood donors to attend clinics nationwide following a significant drop in blood supplies after the recent bank holiday period.

The IBTS aims to maintain a seven-day supply of blood at all times. However, current levels have fallen to just over two days’ supply of O positive and just over three days’ supply of other key blood groups, thus placing increased pressure on hospital services.
Hospital demand for blood has remained high in recent weeks, particularly throughout March. This has coincided with holiday periods, including St Patrick’s Day and Easter, when many regular donors were unavailable.

To address this shortfall, additional clinics have been scheduled, including five extra clinics nationwide on Sunday, 12th April 2026.

Tipperary Clinics – April 2026
Blood donation clinics will take place at the following locations in Tipperary:–
Sunday, 12th April 2026 – Nenagh – Abbey Court Hotel.
Wednesday – 22nd April 2026 – Cahir.
Thursday – 23rd April 2026 – Cashel.

How to Donate:-
New donors are especially welcome and encouraged to:-
(1) Complete the New Donor Eligibility Quiz.
(2) Call Tel: 1800 731 137 to book an appointment.

Regular donors can:–
(A) View venue details
(B) Book appointments via the Online Appointment Booking System

Before Attending a Clinic, Please remember to:-
Bring photo ID.
Eat a substantial meal.
Drink plenty of cold fluids
Stay Informed

If there are no upcoming clinics in your area, you can:-
Request a text message alert when the IBTS is next visiting your locality.
Remember: Every Donation Matters.

The IBTS is urging all eligible donors to attend clinics over the coming days. Blood donations are vital for surgeries, emergency care, and ongoing treatments, and the life you save could be yours.