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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Lidl store shut after inspectors find rodent droppings in multiple areas
A Lidl supermarket was issued with a closure order by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland last month after rodent droppings were found at "multiple locations" in the premises. The closure order, under the FSAI Act, was served on Lidl located on the Sallynoggin Road in Glenageary, Dublin on July 29 and was lifted on August 1. The FSAI report noted that a "live mouse was observed running across the floor adjacent to the baler in the store room by two environmental health officers". Inspectors stated that rodent droppings were evident in multiple locations in the food premises, including on the shop floor behind a food display unit. "Extensive food debris" was evident on the floor of the store room, the floor of the bakery and on the shop floor, Dublin Live reports. Separately, a closure order under the European Union Regulations 2020 was served on Costa Coffee on Dawson Street, Dublin on July 2 due to "inadequate procedures to control pests". The inspector noted in their report that rodent droppings were found in the dishwasher room, food store. The report said: "A gap at the bottom of the main customer door could allow pests such as rats to enter your food business". The closure order was lifted on July 4. Other closure orders issued during July include Hidden Dojo Asian Street food in Phibsborough on July 7, Londis Athboy (the deli/food preparation area and ice cream service area) on July 24 and lifted on July 28, and Emerald Park's storage unit located to the rear of "coffee dock" on July 14 and lifted on July 15. FSAI Chief Executive 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. "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." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.


RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Lidl supermarket among closures over food safety issues
A Lidl supermarket in Co Dublin was among ten premises issued with closure orders by the Food Safety Authority (FSAI) last month, where inspectors observed rodent droppings in mulitple locations. Lidl on the Sallynoggin Road in Glenageary was issued with a food closure order after a "grave and immediate danger to food safety" was found by inspectors last month. Rodent dropping were found to be evident on the shop floor behind a food display unit, to the side of a freezer and in a store room, leading to the store's temporary closure. Elsewhere, the kitchen areas of the Brandon Hotel on Prince's Street in Tralee, Co Kerry, and a storage unit in Emerald Park in Ashbourne, Co Meath, were also issued with closure orders. At the Brandon Hotel, inspectors said there was evidence of a "significant cockroach infestation at all stages of the life cycle from nymph to adult throughout the food premises". As a result, all kitchen areas including the dry goods store, washup areas, staff canteen, restaurant and stills area were closed. At Emerald Park, a storage unit at the rear of 'Coffee Dock' was closed after it was found that "adequate procedures were not in place to control pests". Rodent droppings were found in the storage unit which was used to store food such as candy floss and food contact materials like reusable cups and lids. A closure order under the FSAI Act was also issued for Creed's Foodstore in Burncourt, Cahir, Co Tipperary. While six closure orders were issued with either full or partial closure orders under EU regulations including Londis Athboy in Co Meath, KRS Catering Stall in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Hiddon Dojo Asian Street Food in Phibsborough, Dublin 7, Wakami Sushi & Asian in Phibsborough and Costa Coffee on Dawson Street in Dublin 2. Chief Executive of the FSAI Greg Dempsey said the recent foodborne incidents serve as a "stark reminder" of the need for food businesses to "maintain the highest food safety standards". He said: "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.


Dublin Live
10-07-2025
- Health
- Dublin Live
RTE creche kitchen shut by FSAI after rodent droppings found
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The staff canteen and kitchen in the RTE creche was issued a closure order by FSAI officers last month due to rodent activity causing a "grave and immediate danger to food safety". The closure order was served on the Wee Care premises at the RTE campus in Donnybrook on June 16th and was lifted on June 18th. The FSAI report found that a "significant number of rodent droppings" were evident at various locations in the kitchen and the staff canteen. Inspectors also stated that a "grave and immediate danger to food safety exists in the food premises due to rodent activity". The report said that "adequate procedures were not in place to control pests" on the premises. Closure orders under the FSAI Act were also issued for All Bar Chicken in Coolock in Dublin, Il Vicolo restaurant at Bridge Mills in Galway and Doolin Ice Cream's food store in Clare. Mr 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." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.


Extra.ie
10-07-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Crèche and canteen shut at RTÉ as rodent droppings found
RTÉ's crèche was ordered to close its kitchen and canteen due to a 'significant number of rodent droppings'. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported yesterday that eight closure orders were issued last month. Among these was Wee Care Limited at Donnybrook, a facility provided by RTÉ that cares for children of staff working at the broadcaster. An inspection by the FSAI on June 25 found the kitchen on the premises had failed to comply with the provisions of EC Regulation on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs. Pic: Shutterstock Following this, the crèche was ordered by the FSAI to close its kitchen and the canteen used by staff on the premises due to what the inspector called 'a grave and immediate danger to food safety due to rodent activity'. The inspection found that droppings were present on the floor behind and under two fridges, a freezer and an oven. It also discovered more droppings behind and underneath a fridge in a canteen area. The inspector wrote that 'a lack of cleaning is evident in the premises', saying: 'Rodent droppings have not been cleaned up and the affected areas have not been disinfected.' The inspection further found that 'adequate procedures are not in place to control pests in the premises'. The national broadcaster has spent €5,400 on pest checks and inspections over the past 12 months in its sprawling Dublin 4 complex. Pic: Fran Veale The closure order was lifted two days later after pest control was contacted to address the problems found in the initial inspection. A staff member at RTÉ told 'It shouldn't be too much to ask for our kids to be protected from rat droppings. It should be the bare minimum.' They went on to say the broadcaster needs to take responsibility, saying they 'should be doing more to reassure us as parents instead of washing their hands of it and point the finger at the contractors who run it'. The inspector who visited the crèche warned that 'rodents can transmit harmful pathogens to foodstuffs, food contact surfaces, equipment and packaging through droppings and urine'. The closure comes during an ongoing battle against rodents at RTÉ headquarters. Pic: Getty Images It was reported in early June that RTÉ had spent €5,400 on checks and inspections over the past year to ensure the campus was vermin-free. Last December, it came to light that after the sighting of a mouse at the Wee Care crèche, extermination services had been called to deal with the issue. This process proved unsuccessful after it was reported in February that mouse droppings had been found in the kitchen of the crèche. That same day, a dead mouse was removed from the second floor of the main RTÉ building. This was followed by reports of rats and mice sighted in the main canteen, the wardrobe department and on the set of Fair City. Two Radar mouse traps were bought as a precaution, and RTÉ later said that it had an ongoing contract for areas where rodent activity was suspected. FSAI chief Greg Dempsey said: 'Food safety isn't optional, it's essential. Non-compliance with food law is not tolerated.' Closure orders were issued to Doolin Ice Cream in Co. Clare, All Bar Chicken in Coolock, Co. Dublin, and Il Vicolo in Galway.


Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Award-winning Galway restaurant hit with closure notice after discovery of rodent droppings
Il Vicolo of Bridge Mills O'Briens Bridge, Galway city was ordered to close on June 4 by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The decision came after inspectors found rodent droppings within the food business. They concluded that the rodent droppings resulted in a grave and immediate danger for the public. The notice was lifted after two days of closure on June 6. Il Vicolo won 'Best Italian Establishment' at the 2024 edition of Food Awards Ireland and in 2022 was crowned Best Italian restaurant in Ireland at the the National Restaurant Awards. A total of eight food businesses were served closure orders in June for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the EU's Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation Regulations, 2020. The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE. FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive 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,' he said. '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.' Under the FSAI Act, 1998, 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; or where an Improvement Order is not complied with. Closure Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.