'Rat droppings found on food' - Three food businesses forced to close doors in February

Three food businesses were forced to close their doors in February after a health inspection found "serious deficiencies in hygiene and pest control".

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the HSE served three Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order on food businesses during the month of February 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.

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Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Letterkenny Spiceland (Retailer), Unit 1, Green Isle Park, Port Road, Letterkenny, Donegal
• Masala Chowk Restaurant and Takeaway, Unit 1, Green Isle Park, Port Road, Letterkenny, Donegal

One Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Duud (Closed area: The rear yard including the two storage containers at the rear of the premises) (Retailer), Pinewood House, Huntstown Road, Huntstown, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Good African Food Store (Retailer), 108 B Oldtown Road, Letterkenny, Donegal

Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in February are: rodent droppings found on boxes containing food, on the floor and on pallets used to store food; a dead mouse found under food shelving; rodent droppings found on and around food packaging, shelving and equipment; gaps noted in the main kitchen area leading to the external waste area; food items displayed for sale without adequate labelling or identification to facilitate its traceability; insufficient cleaning and disinfection practices.

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Commenting today, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, reaffirmed the legal requirement of all food businesses to ensure full and continuous compliance with food safety requirements.

“Food businesses are legally obliged to ensure that the food they provide is safe for consumers. This month’s Enforcement Orders were issued where serious deficiencies in hygiene and pest control were observed.

“These issues are all entirely preventable. It is critical that all food businesses maintain rigorous food safety practices and ensure staff are properly trained. Consumer health cannot be compromised, and there is no excuse for negligence in food safety when running a food business.”

Separately, during the months of January and February three prosecutions were taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to:

• Fresh Today (Retailer), Athboy Road, Trim, Meath
• Elite Events and Caterers (Service Sector), Carrigeen GAA, Waddingstown, Mooncoin, Kilkenny
• Trim ‘N Healthy (Health Food Shop/ Pharmacy/ Sports Nutrition), 3 Haggard Court, Haggard Street, Trim, Meath

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Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.

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.