Numerous hygiene-related issues in gourmet kitchens, such as unsanitary conditions, walls, fixtures and equipment smeared with dirt, including fresh rat faeces and a surge of polluted water in a manufacturing area, were among the primary reasons the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued ten enforcement orders last month. A few other issues included unidentified and tagless fish and meat conserved for an unknown time in refrigerators and freezers. There were also signs of irregular and insufficient cleaning in the establishments, failures in abiding by food safety laws and missing correct food allergen information.
A closure order was issued under the FSAI Act 1998, in relation to the Le Chocolat de Frèd coffee shop located at Lower Georges Street, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Eight more closure orders were served according to the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020. The affected places included the Shangri La Asian Cuisine food joint, Super Mario’s take away, Kingdom of Sweets, all in Dublin, Babylon Kebab House in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and the Royal Caterers in Ashbourne, Co Meath.
In addition, the Cork Oriental Supermarket’s kitchen and storage zone on Dalton’s avenue, Dublin’s Hilan Chinese and Korean BBQ restaurant along with Munch Box Restaurant in Drumcondra, Dublin, faced closure orders under Food Legislation Regulations. Hilan Chinese, based on Capel Street in Dublin, also had a Prohibition Order served upon them.
Dr Pamela Byrne, the CEO of the FSAI, emphasised that any breach in food safety regulations directly threatens consumer health, highlighting that it is the legal responsibility of the food business operators to provide safe food to consumers. She added that such practices tarnish the food industry’s image and might erode consumer trust in food products. Byrne revealed that Environmental Health Officers still stumble upon cases where consumer wellbeing is jeopardised mainly due to non-compliance with hygiene norms, pest control and food safety training requirements, which she described as intolerable.
The list of food businesses served with Enforcement Orders can be accessed on the FSAI’s website www.fsai.ie.
Orders for enhancement and discontinuation will be kept displayed on the online portal for a span of three months since the establishment was deemed to have rectified its food safety problem. Furthermore, prohibition orders will be maintained on view for a single month from the moment the order has been revoked.