The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reports that four Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of August for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.
The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Of the four Closure Orders that were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010, two were popular takeaway establishments.
Riverview Takeaway in Louth and Pizza Point in Meath were issued with closure orders and the reasons why are rank enough.
In Pizza Point:
- There was no running hot water supply available at sinks for cleaning hands, for washing food or for cleaning and disinfecting working utensils and equipment at the time of inspection.
- There was a failure to provide an adequate supply of hot running water at sinks may lead to contamination of food and food contact materials.
- The cleaning was poor throughout the premises, there no cleaning schedule and no disinfectant available at the time of inspection.
- There was a failure to maintain the premises in a hygienic condition may pose a risk of contamination of foodstuffs.
- The food worker on site at the time of inspection had no formal food hygiene training. In the absence of any formal training the hygiene practices of staff may pose a risk to food safety.
In Riverview Takeaway:
- Handling of raw kebab meat and raw chicken.
- There was no evidence that the Food Safety Management system based on the principles of HACCP being used in the premises was being properly implemented and was effective to prevent, eliminate or reduce hazards which may lead to a risk of unsafe food being produced.
- There was no up to date documentation to demonstrate monitoring and control of deliveries, cooking and hot holding of foodstuffs.
- Management and staff working with food in the food premises did not demonstrate sufficient knowledge to enable them to carry out their work activities in a safe and hygienic manner.
- The lack of basic knowledge of the staff and lack of supervision of work practices poses or is likely to pose an unacceptable risk to consumer safety.
Commenting today, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI said “It is essential for food businesses to have a strong food safety culture in their business, which can be achieved through ongoing staff training. Food businesses need to comply with the law and there are no excuses for failure to do so. Food safety inspectors are continuing to encounter basic errors being made by food businesses which are easily avoidable.”
“Closure Orders are served on food businesses only when a risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing breaches of food legislation, and that largely tends to relate to serious and grave hygiene or other operational issues. These Closure Orders indicate that not all food businesses are complying with the law and as a result, are potentially putting consumers’ health at serious risk."
You can find the full list of closures for August here.
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