‘Faecal matter smeared on wall of staff sanitary facility' – well-known Dublin city restaurant hit with closure order

Irish Independent

13-05-2025

A report into the Smithfield business found evidence of 'serious inappropriate' personal hygiene practices being carried out on the premises.
"For example, there was faecal matter smeared on the wall of the staff sanitary facility, after staff had used it,' the report by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said.
The FSAI served 10 enforcement orders on businesses during April for breaches of food safety legislation.
The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE.
Six closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
A closure order is served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises.
These can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.
Indian restaurant Namaste, located at 88/89 King Street North was one of those hit with a closure order.
A closure order, which was lifted on May 2, was also served on The City Arms Gastro Bar/ Bistro in Waterford city, which led to the closure of its area for food storage and preparation, used for cooking and the service of food.
In Co Limerick, the Tasty Chinese takeaway, located in The Square in Dromcollogher, was served with a closure order
"The sink unit in the alley outside the back door into the premises is over an open drainage gully. This area is subject to foul sewer water contamination,' the report said.
Bojon Spices, on Summerhill Road, Dunboyne, Co Meath, was served with a closure order for 'all the activities of the business'. Inspectors here found a 'lack of regular and effective cleaning'.
The FSAI said its holdings of other premises were 'to be ceased' and the internet sites or social media sites it operated were also 'to be ceased'. The closure order was lifted on May 2.
The Barne Lodge, located in Rathkeevan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was hit with a closure order that was lifted on April 19. It was found to have 'accumulated mould' on internal surfaces of the ice machine used to make ice for cooling drinks.
The Rio Latte Bar, at Unit 7, Park Shopping Centre, Prussia Street, Dublin 7, was also hit with a closure order, which was lifted on April 17.
A report found a risk to food safety and public health as: "Food is being prepared, frozen, thawed and reheated without any documented procedures in place."
Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998, the first of which was on Greenville Deli, located at 45 Monkstown Avenue, in Monkstown, Co Dublin but lifted on April 17.
An inspector's report revealed 'mouse droppings are evident in a number of locations in the food premises' posing 'a grave and immediate danger to food safety'.
Sirmone Limited, trading as 'Soul Bakery' and TPB, located at unit L5, Ballymount Industrial Estate, in Dublin 12, was also hit with a closure order that was lifted on April 14.
A large container with waste bread was stored uncovered in the despatch area, providing a food source for the rodents
"Rodent droppings were noted around the edge of the floor of the dry-goods store and in the main production area,' the inspector's report found.
"Droppings were also evident on bags of flour in the dry-goods store. A large container with waste bread was stored uncovered in the despatch area, providing a food source for the rodents."
Meanwhile, two improvement orders were served under the FSAI Act. These may be issued by the District Court if an improvement notice is not complied with within a defined period.
Further non-compliance could result in a closure order being served on the following: The Sancta Maria Nursing Home, in Parke, Kinnegad, in Meath and the Sligo Spice, at McGlynns Terrace, 1 Lower Pearse Road, in Sligo.
Some of the other reasons for the enforcement orders in April include flies observed in a kitchen with no fly screen in place and, separately, a failure by staff to demonstrate any knowledge of food safety management procedures was also noted.
Inadequate and uncalibrated equipment used to monitor temperatures and a lack of evidence to support use-by dates on defrosted food was also observed.
There was also a lack of cleaning and disinfection and no hot water or designated hand wash basin in the food preparation area noted in some restaurants.
A heavily stained kitchen, with visible dirt and grease on cooking equipment and stainless steel surfaces, customer toilets and urinals that had not been cleaned, were also noted in inspector reports.
FSAI chief executive Greg Dempsey said there was an obligation for food businesses to 'act responsibly' and ensure the food they provided was safe to eat.
Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe
'Food businesses owe it to their customers that the food they are selling is safe to eat. Not only is it the right thing to do, it's also a legal requirement under food law,' he said.
"Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe to eat and that it complies with all relevant food safety legislation. The findings that led to these enforcement orders highlight an unacceptable disregard for basic food safety and hygiene practices.'