Thursday, 09 January 2025
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase of 45% on the 92 that were served in 2023. The FSAI outlined the importance of robust food safety management systems and stressed that the legal responsibility lies with food businesses to ensure that they appropriately train staff to produce, serve and sell food that is safe to eat, and ensure that their premises are clean and adequately pest proofed.
Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, 115 Closure Orders, 16 Prohibition Orders and 2 Improvement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses throughout the country. A number of recurring food safety issues identified in food businesses resulted in Enforcement Orders being issued, including a lack of pest control procedures; inadequate regular and thorough cleaning; failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs; unsuitable food storage facilities; and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.
Commenting on the annual figures, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that the 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. 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.”
“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,” added Dr Byrne.
The FSAI also reported that nine Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of December 2024 for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive.
Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork
- Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath
- K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
- Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford
- Lam's Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny
- Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2
Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary
- Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
- Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5
Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in December include: inadequate pest control measures in place; the presence of fresh rat droppings and decomposed rat carcass; live cockroaches on walls, floors and in a sticky trap; dirty premises, with accumulation of food debris, grease, dirt, and rat faeces; live and dead cockroaches throughout the food storage and preparation areas; ready-to-eat foods incorrectly stored; complete lack of cleaning; disorganisation in the storage of food and non-food-related equipment hindering adequate cleaning and disinfection; no evidence of a food safety management system in place.
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
