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The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Rodent droppings at Emerald Park and a south Dublin Lidl both led to food closure orders in July
TWELVE FOOD BUSINESSES were served closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in July, including Lidl and a coffee dock storage unit in Emerald Park, which were both closed due to the presence of rodent droppings. A mouse ran in front of two environmental health officers while they were inspecting the store room of Lidl on Sallynoggin Road, Co Dublin on 29 July. Some of the reasons for the closure orders of other businesses include the presence of dead cockroaches and beetles, lack of handwashing and not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation. The closure orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI. Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on: Lidl Sallynoggin Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. Creed's Foodstore Burncourt Cahir, Co. Tipperary Brandon Hotel (Closed areas: All kitchen areas including dry goods store, wash up areas, staff canteen, restaurant and stills area.) Prince's Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Emerald Park (Closed area: The storage unit located to the rear of 'coffee dock' in Emerald Park) Kilbrew Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Six Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Londis Athboy (Closed areas: the deli/food preparation area and ice cream service area) Connaught Street, Athboy, Co. Meath KRS Catering Stall (Closed activity: the service of all foods prepared off-site and transported to the venue. Closure does not apply to the sale/service of beverages and foods prepared on-site) Powerstown Park Racecourse, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Tim Nessa 2A John's Street, Co. Limerick Hidden Dojo Asian Street food, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Wakami Sushi & Asian, 47A Phibsborough Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Costa Coffee, 1 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on: Ballymaguire Foods Unlimited Company, Rathmooney, Lusk, Co. Dublin. One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Timothy Onwuegbusi, 2A John's Street, Limerick and Emeka Ikebudu, 2A John's Street, Limerick. During the inspection of Lidl on Sallynoggin Road, inspectors said a 'grave and immediate danger' to food safety was found in the premises, due to the presence of rodent droppings and food debris in multiple locations, including on the shop floor and in the store room where food was kept. Advertisement The closure order was lifted on 1 August. A storage unit in Emerald Park was also closed after rat droppings were found in the unit on 7 July, which also stored food, reusable cups, straws and lids. Inspectors noted the unit was not pest proof as it had holes in the walls. The closure order was lifted on 15 July. Costa Coffee on Dawson Street, Co Dublin, was served a closure order due to the presence of rat droppings in the dishwasher room, food store, and customer entrance, on 2 July, which was lifted on 4 July. Dead cockroaches were found by inspectors on 23 July in a main kitchen under work surfaces and under cooking equipment in Brandon Hotel, Co Kerry. The order was lifted on 25 July. During an inspection of Wakami Sushi and Asian on 7 July, in Phibsborough, Co Dublin, inspectors noted that the food business did not provide adequate means for staff to wash hands in the kitchen, with one sink not having soap or a towel. They noted infrequent handwashing in the kitchen and said owners and staff were not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation. FSAI chief Greg Dempsey, said 'recent foodborne incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for food businesses to maintain the highest food safety standards.' 'Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they purchase is safe, and food businesses have a clear legal and moral responsibility to ensure that it is. The Enforcement Orders issued this month reflect serious, preventable breaches of food safety law,' he said. '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.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTE creche among eight premises served closure orders last month
A childcare facility based at RTÉ's Donnybrook campus is among eight premises which were issued with closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month. The closure orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI. The creche, which is based in Montrose House and is operated by Wee Care Day nurseries, was among four closure orders issued in July under the FSAI Act, which states that "a grave and immediate danger to public health" had been identified. The facility's kitchen and staff canteen were ordered to close "for failure to comply" with health and safety regulations after inspectors discovered "a significant number of rodent droppings" in a number of locations in the kitchen. Inspectors also determined that "adequate procedures are not in place to control pests in the premises," while "a lack of cleaning" was also evident. The report from the food safety inspector ruled that "a grave and immediate danger to food safety exists in the food premises due to the rodent activity and served the creche with a closure order June 16." The order was lifted two days later on June 18. Three other closure orders were served last month under the FSAI Act 1998 on: Meanwhile, four closure orders were served last month under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Commenting on the closure orders issued in July, Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: 'Every food business has a legal responsibility to ensure the food they produce is safe to eat. Failures like poor hygiene, pest activity, and improper storage are basic errors that can have severe consequences to public health. "Food safety isn't optional, it's essential. While we understand the daily pressures on businesses, food safety and hygiene standards must be maintained at all times. "A robust food safety management system not only protects public health, but it also supports the long-term success of the food business. Non-compliance with food law is not tolerated and enforcement action will be taken where standards fall short.'
The Journal
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Dead insects, faecal matter and a car workshop among reasons for food closure orders in May
TEN FOOD BUSINESSES were served closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in May. Some of the reasons for the closure orders include rodent droppings, dead insects, a 'film of dirt' on cooking supplies and an unregistered business operating in a shed building where the other half of the shed was a working car workshop. The closure orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI. Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on: Haperty Limited – Trading at Mind Mega Mela 2025 (takeaway), St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 Spice Village & Indian Kebab House (takeaway), Ferry Road, Tarbert, Kerry Houda Foods (wholesaler/distributor), Unit 5, Ballinlough Business Park, Ballinlough, Roscommon Heyba's Kitchen, trading at Shed A3 Bremore Farm, Flemington Lane, Bremore, Balbriggan, Dublin Stop n Shop Convenience Store (wholesaler/distributor), 52-54 Tullow Street, Carlow Five closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 on: Kerala Royal Caters (service sector), Unit 27C, Ashbourne Business Centre, Ballybin Road, Ashbourne, Meath Pizza Corner (takeaway), Main Street Caherconlish, Limerick Shake Dog (restaurant/café), Unit 23, Showgrounds Shopping Centre, Clonmel, Tipperary Thindi (service sector), 143 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7 Tasty Food (takeaway), Unit 2, Cross Avenue, Ballyneety, Limerick During an inspection of Heyba's Kitchen, inspectors noted the shed building where the food business operates was divided in two by a head-high fabric curtain, where the other half of the shed was a working car workshop. They also noted that there were rodent droppings, dead insects, dirt and dust evident in the food handling areas, food packaging and equipment used. An inspection of Thindi on Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, found there was faecal matter on the rim of the staff toilet bowl. Inspectors described the toilet bowl and seats as 'entirely unclean', with evidence of pubic hair and dirt. Advertisement There was a paper cup on the floor next to the toilet, which inspectors said was 'for use by staff after using the toilet'. The closure order was lifted on 21 May. Haperty Limited was found to be incorrectly storing food at an outdoor festival, and no food safety management records were available to inspectors. Raw fish and chicken were found to be in the range of 14 to 19 degrees, stored in a container on the grass 'for an unknown period of time'. An inspection of Houda Foods on 27 May found mouse droppings visible on the floor in the warehouse where food is stored. Inspectors also noted that the food was stored in a warehouse that is shared with another non-food business, and there is no physical separation between the businesses in the warehouse. FSAI chief Greg Dempsey said that all food businesses 'have a legal obligation to ensure the food they sell is safe to eat'. 'The high number of Enforcement Orders in May is disappointing, especially as the type of non-compliances, such as unclean premises and pest infestations, are all preventable where the business has a food safety management system in place and staff are properly trained,' Dempsey said. 'While the vast majority of food businesses comply with their legal requirement to register their business prior to operating, unfortunately, some choose to operate without the knowledge or supervision of the competent authorities, potentially exposing consumers to unsafe food. 'These businesses will be pursued using the legal powers available to us.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘Faecal matter smeared on wall of staff sanitary facility' – well-known Dublin city restaurant hit with closure order
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.'
