Blood-stained boxes and live cockroaches - Seven Irish businesses ordered to close in July

Seven businesses across Ireland were ordered to close in July 2023 for breaches of food safety legislation. 

That's according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), which today (August 10) confirmed a total of ten enforcement orders were issued last month due to food safety breaches, which include "heavy" cockroach activity near uncovered food, the presence of rodent droppings, and the storage of rotten meat. 

Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on Al Huda Grocery in Dublin 1, Spice of India (restaurant/café), in Bishopstown, Cork, and MJ Atkinson Limited in Cavan, while four further closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 to Momo's (restaurant/café) in Tallaght, Dublin 24, Sichuan Chilli King (restaurant/café), in Dublin 1, Pizza Lab (takeaway) in Dublin 7, and Ocean Palace Chinese Takeaway in Navan, Co. Meath. 

An improvement order and prohibition order were served under the FSAI Act 1998 to D Grill (restaurant/café) in Dublin 2 and Delhi2Dublin in Dublin 12 respectively, while a further prohibition order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 on Pizza Lab (takeaway) in Dublin 7. 

Reasons for the issuing of enforcement orders include the storage of medications immediately above ingredients, a lack of information relating to meat traceability, significant build-up of mould on surfaces in a cold storage room, and no evidence of regular cleaning. 

An inspector also noted an open bag of cooked chicken stored adjacent to blood-stained boxes of raw chicken in one establishment, while another noted foul water stagnating in an open drain near a drinks service area. 

Commenting on the news, Chief Executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, said that while the majority of food businesses adhere to food safety regulations, it is clear that some businesses are not fully compliant. 

She said, "Food safety is critical to safeguarding public health. Failures to follow the basics of staff training, regular cleaning and correct storage of food are seen again and again throughout the Enforcement Orders issued in July.

"It is also not acceptable for businesses to store and process meat and poultry without proper registration with the relevant authorities. 

"Unregistered and unauthorised food businesses are a risk to public health, as it is not possible to verify compliance with food law. All food businesses, from the established to the newly opened, must fully adhere with food safety regulations at all times. Enforcement action will be taken for transgressions, in the interest of public health protection."