Five food businesses were ordered to shut down over safety breaches last month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said today.
The enforcement orders were issued by veterinary inspectors in Roscommon County Council and by environmental health officers in the in the HSE West Region, the HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Region and the HSE Dublin North East Region.
Last month, closure orders were served on the Tasty Grill on Richmond Street, Portobello, Dublin 2; the Great Wall Chinese restaurant and takeaway on Church Street, Cootehill, Co Cavan; the Overseas Chinese takeaway and restaurant on Main Street, Elphin, Co Roscommon; the Galway Fresh Fish and Seafood stall and van, Strokestown, Co Roscommon and the Saffron Indian Culture in Shannon, Co Clare.
A closure order is issued if the FSAI rules there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health in the food premises. The order can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.
In addition to the closure orders issued in August, a prohibition order was served on Felix Enterprises of Summerhill, Dublin 1.
Businesses are served with prohibition orders if their activities involve or are likely to involve a serious risk to public health from a particular product, class, batch or item of food, while improvement notices are issued where there are concerns involving the handling and preparation of food and the condition of a premises.
Chief executive of the FSAI, Prof Alan Reilly said the authority was encouraged to see a decline in enforcement orders in August, compared to July when 13 food businesses were ordered to shut down over safety breaches.
"We are pleased to be reporting a significant drop in the number of Enforcement Orders served on businesses during August. Our number one priority is the protection of consumer health and we would stress to all businesses the importance of maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness at all times," said Prof Reilly.
"One of the simplest ways to ensure food is produced safely is to make certain basic hygiene standards are met and yet, this continues to be an issue for some food businesses. You can't produce safe food in dirty kitchens," he added.
