Thurles Information

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that ten Enforcement Orders, in total, were served on Irish food businesses during the month of November; all for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Enforcement Orders were issued by both Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and by veterinary inspectors in Louth County Council.

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Mr David o’Brien, The Bakehouse (bakery), No. 7 Main Street, Cashel, Co Tipperary.

Reason for making of order:

• Inadequate temperature control measures for high risk foods.
• Uncertainty of conditions under which the food was produced and stored.

Other Closure Orders

A further six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on premises in counties Kerry, Cork, Louth, Dublin, Kilkenny and Sligo.

Three Closure Orders were also served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on two premises in Co. Limerick and one in Co. Meath.

Full Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website HERE.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in November include: evidence that people were living and sleeping in the food preparation area; dead mice found in the ingredient storage area which is a part of the food production area, along with numerous mice droppings on shelving; ongoing cockroach infestation in the kitchen, storage areas and on the shop floor; large food storage containers found to be covered in food debris, dirt and cobwebs; evidence of mould and mildew on a chip storage container and on the chip scoops; inadequate temperature control measures in place for high-risk foods; no evidence to demonstrate that the food business operator was trained in food safety, with no evidence of a food safety management system; heavy deposits of mouse droppings behind the fridge, freezer, in the main food preparation area and in the dry goods store; evidence that food infested by rodent droppings was placed on the market; an establishment operating as a meat cutting plant, also producing meat preparations and meat products, without approval from the competent authority.

Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, (Chief Executive, FSAI), emphasised the need for all food businesses to take responsibility and commit to their legal obligation to comply with food law, ensuring that there is a strong food safety culture in their business.

“Food law requires all food businesses to be notified to the relevant competent authority prior to operating. This requirement ensures that food businesses will be registered and/or approved with the appropriate inspection agency to ensure food safety and protect consumer health. Every food business must have a food safety management system in place to protect consumers’ health and prevent instances, such as those seen in the Enforcement Orders in November. Each business must also have a positive food safety culture embedded within it. Failure to comply with basic food safety legal requirements is not only a potential risk to public health, but also a risk to the food business’s reputation if things go wrong. Several of the Enforcement Orders in November also detail problems with pest infestations. These must be prevented by always having robust pest control systems in place, but especially during these colder winter months.” said Dr Byrne.

All Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the FSAI 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 from the date the Order was lifted.