Food Safety Authority of Ireland enforced closures of several businesses this summer

Extra.ie​

a day ago

A Dublin branch of German supermarket giant Lidl and a popular tourist hotel in Tralee, County Kerry are just two of the businesses that were forced to close their doors under orders issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in July.
Ten closure orders in total were handed out by the FSAI last month, including the Lidl store on the Sallynoggin Road in Glenageary, Dublin, where the entire premises was ordered to close after rodent droppings were found in multiple locations across the shop floor and the store room.
The report also detailed what was described as 'extensive food debris' on the floor of the store room, and 'large amounts of foodstuffs' in areas where rodent droppings were visible on the floors. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
A live mouse was even observed scampering across the floor in the store room by two environmental health officials, inspecting the store.
The order on the store, issued on July 29th, was lifted on August 1st and the HSE conducted a review and approved the store for reopening.
In response to the order, a spokesperson for Lidl said 'providing a clean, safe and enjoyable shopping experience for all of our customers is of the utmost importance to us' and the retail giant takes food safety issues 'extremely seriously'. A live mouse was even observed scampering across the floor in the store room by two environmental health officials, inspecting the store. Pic: Shutterstock
Lidl has stated that it has since fully collaborated with the HSE and taken necessary steps, including hiring a professional pest control service, conducting a deep clean and full sanitation of the store, and pest-proofing the premises to prevent future issues.
Lidl has also reasssured customers that a full internal review of processes has been carried out to ensure cleanliness and food safety at the store.
'We understand and apologise for the concern this has caused and would like to assure our customers that the issue was addressed fully and efficiently', Lidl said. Pic: Getty Images
Meanwhile, a popular hotel in Tralee, County Kerry was at the centre of a cockroach infestation, resulting in the closure of its kitchen for a time.
The Brandon Hotel suffered what's been described as a 'significant cockroach infestation' in a number of areas of the hotel, including dead roaches in the main kitchen, under fridges, and on the floors of the wash-up area and even the staff canteen.
Live cockroaches were even seen in the hotel's restaurant. The closure order was lifted on July 25th. Pic: Getty Images
Meanwhile, even theme parks do not escape the scourge of the pests, with a storage unit at the rear of a coffee dock in Emerald Park in Ashbourne, Co Meath closed for a time on July 14th after rat droppings were found in the unit.
Environmental inspectors found rodent droppings in an area used for storing food and items like cups, lids, straws, food containers and trays and their report noted that the unit was not pest-proof, with holes in the walls.
A number of other businesses hit with closure orders over the past number of weeks include a Londis store on Connaught Street in Athboy, County Meath, Creeds foodstore in Cahir, County Tipperary, and KRS Catering Stall in Clonmel, County Tipperary.
Tim Nessa on John's Street in Limerick was served a closure order, as was the Costa Coffee on Dublin's Dawson Street. Wakami Sushi and Asian and Hidden Dojo Asian Streetfood, both based on Phibsborough Road in Dublin, were also forced to close. Pic: Shutterstock
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said that recent incidents involving foodstuffs serve as a stark reminder of the need for businesses handling food to maintain the highest standards of food safety, and that customers are entitled to expect that the food they purchase is safe.
The report from the FSAI went on to say that 'Every food business must take its responsibility to comply with food safety law seriously. The FSAI can provide support and advice to food businesses to help them meet their obligations.'
'However, as demonstrated by the enforcement actions this month, where food businesses do not comply with their obligations, we will take action.'