115 closure orders issued to Irish food businesses in 2024

In total 133 Enforcement Orders were issued to businesses last year, 41 more than the year before

By: irishmirror.ie

Jan 09 2025
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115 closure orders issued to I

A total of 133 enforcement orders were served on food businesses around Ireland for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.

The authority said it is 'concerning' to see a 45% increase in enforcement orders issued last year compared to the 92 that were served in 2023.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, the FSAI served 115 Closure Orders, 16 Prohibition Orders and two Improvement Orders on food businesses throughout the country.

These enforcement actions were led by Environmental Health Officers in the HSE, local authority veterinary inspectors, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and officers of the FSAI.

A number of recurring safety issues resulted in the issuing of enforcement orders, the authority said, including a lack of pest control procedures, inadequate regular and thorough cleaning and failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs.

Other breaches related to unsuitable food storage facilities, inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and personal hygiene.

The FSAI branded the increase in Enforcement Orders served in 2024 as 'unacceptable'

Commenting on the annual figures, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that the sharp increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024 was 'unacceptable'.

“It is concerning to see a significant increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024. Consumers have a right to safe food and negligent food practices are inexcusable," said Dr Byrne.

"The types of reasons cited for Enforcement Orders are simple errors that should not be happening in any food business. Enforcement Orders, especially Closure and Prohibition Orders, are never issued for minor breaches; they are served only when a serious risk to consumer health is identified or when ongoing breaches of food legislation pose significant hygiene or operational issues.

"Inadequate or absent pest control procedures was a recurring issue throughout 2024 and pest control needs to be addressed by all food businesses this year. Every food business must have robust pest control procedures in place to ensure that pests are not getting into their businesses and putting consumers’ health at risk.”

Dr Byrne added: “While the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, it is unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable. These fundamental breaches not only pose a potential risk to consumer health, but also undermine consumer trust. Food businesses must take responsibility and ensure compliance with food safety legislation at all times.”

The FSAI also reported that nine Closure Orders were issued in December 2024. Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork

A closure order was issued on this urban farm based in Cork City on December 12 after inspectors found evidence of pest activity, including gnawed packaging of foods with dropping of pests noted on oats. The Closure Order was lifted on January 3.

Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath

A Closure Order was issued on this Athlone takeaway on December 12 and lifted three days later after inspectors discovered that adequate procedures were not in place to control pests. Rodent droppings were noted in in the dry goods store, behind the mixer and under/behind the dough fridge.

K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11

This Irish retail company was issued with a Closure Order on December 12 after rat droppings were discovered in 'multiple locations' throughout the food premises. Inspectors also noted that there were rat traps present in the food premises which had been set off, while there were gnawed plastic bags and old food debris alongside rat droppings. At the time of publication, the closure order had yet to be lifted.

Murphy's Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford

This popular Waterford chipper was issued with a Closure Order on December 9 as adequate procedures were not in place to control pests 'resulting in a grave and immediate danger to public health'. This was evidenced by visual sighting of live and dead cockroaches throughout the food storage and preparation areas. Cockroaches were also observed in equipment and on walls, floors and ceilings. The Closure Order was lifted on January 7.

Lam's Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny

A Closure Order was issued on this takeaway restaurant in Co Kilkenny on December 5 after rat droppings and a decomposed carcass of a rat were discovered on the floor under a crate storing opened bags of rice in the basement food store. Opened bags of foods such as noodles, rice, flour and Chinese herbs were also observed in the basement food store where flies, rat droppings, and a rat carcass were present. The Order was lifted on December 11

Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2

This Mediterranean halal cafe in Dublin city centre was served a Closure Order on December 3 due to their failure to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests. Evidence of cockroach infestation was noted in the main kitchen area and live cockroaches observed in the sticky trap that was hung on the wall under the hot water boiler at the back wall of the main kitchen area. Live cockroaches were also found behind the cover of the chest freezer beside the pizza oven in the main kitchen area. The Closure Order was lifted on December 19.

Three Closure Orders were also served in December under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary

A Chinese Restaurant in Tipperary was ordered to close for failure to keep the food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition. At the time of publication, the closure order had yet to be lifted.

Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5

This Dublin takeaway was ordered to shut on December 2 due to heavy rodent activity in the premises. This was evidenced by the presence of multiple fresh rat droppings in multiple areas throughout the shared kitchen, while a hole had been chewed through the wall in the dry goods store to the front of the shared kitchen, in a manner consistent with rat activity. The FSAI lifted the order on December 11.

Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5

This Dublin-based Japanese takeaway was served a Closure Order on December 12 as adequate procedures were not in place to control pests. The presence of multiple fresh rat droppings were found in multiple areas throughout the shared kitchen while open ready to eat foods such as sushi/sashimi, noodles, chips and sauces were present in the kitchen which rodents were likely to have had contact with. The Order was lifted on December 12.

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