"Heavy cockroach activity" is one of the many reasons why 12 food businesses were served with enforcement orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in June.
That's according to The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) who reported this Thursday that 12 enforcement orders hit food businesses during the month of June 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.
The enforcement orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.
Some of the reasons for enforcement orders included heavy cockroach activity in the kitchen, with dozens of live cockroaches spotted moving around food preparation areas as well as in fridges and inside food storage containers.
The FSAI also found some places had a history of rodent activity, risk of Salmonella, a lack of adequate traceability systems and procedures for all products, undermining consumer safety, a failure to maintain the cold chain with insufficient fridge space to safely store high risk foods such as cooked rice and pasta, risk of cross contamination with ready-to-eat food such as smoked salmon stored next to raw food such as chicken and pork chops, and inadequate ventilation throughout the premises.
Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Shi Wang Yun in Dublin 1, Iceland Ireland Unit 4 in Bargaintown Complex, Greencastle Retail Park, Malahide Road, Coolock. Lynn's Pantry in Tullamore, Offaly and Discoveryland Crèche & Montessori in Wexford, as well as The Music Café in Dublin 2 also received closure orders.
Five Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Into the West (Closed activities: operations from the kitchen only. The serving of beverages from the bar area is not affected by this closure order) in Roscommon, Mizzonis Pizza Café in Lucan, Co Dublin, Wok on Inn in Dublin 1, Chef Kebab in Roscommon, and J2 Sushi in the Food Court at Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin 1.
Two Prohibition Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Iceland Ireland, 6th Floor, South Bank House, Barrow Street House in Dublin 4 and OnlyFish! in Ovens, Cork.
Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that any food business found to be failing its legal food safety and hygiene requirements will face the rigours of the law.
“When a food business fails to combat pest infestations, maintain the cold chain, or provide sufficient traceability information for food products on their premises, they are putting the health of their customers and staff at risk. Cross-contamination of foods has also been an issue with food businesses this month and this is not unacceptable. While inspectors are available to answer questions and provide guidance, they have a duty to protect public health and will issue Enforcement Orders when businesses contravene the expected food safety standards. Consumers have a right to safe food and we call on all food businesses to ensure they are fulfilling this requirement on a daily basis,” said Dr Byrne.
Also, during the month of June, two prosecutions were taken by the HSE in relation to Hu Botanicals Ltd in Balsoon Bective, Navan, Meath and Hu Gold International Wellness and Education Centre Ltd, in Meath.
For futher details, you can visit the FSAI's website here.
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