'Rat droppings on food' - Letterkenny food store forced to close doors in February
The closure order was served on Company Secretary, S & S XL, Illistrin Ltd, owner of Letterkenny Spiceland located at Unit 1, Green Isle Park Port Road, Letterkenny
A popular food store in Letterkenny was forced to shut it's doors in February after a health inspection found rodent droppings on food and food packaging.
The closure order was served on Company Secretary, S & S XL, Illistrin Ltd, owner of Letterkenny Spiceland located at Unit 1, Green Isle Park Port Road, Letterkenny.
The order required the business to close after an inspection from the HSE found "grave or immediate danger to public health".
In the hygiene report, the HSE inspector found that the construction of the premises did not present good hygiene practices, including measures against contamination, in particular, pest control.
The inspector noted this was evident in the premises as rodent droppings were found on food packaging and on food; a dead mouse was found under food shelving and holes and gaps were noted towards the rear of the premises
The report said that due to the above conditions, there is a serious risk of food being contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, which is likely to render food unfit for human consumption. The closure order was issued on February 9, 2026, and was lifted on February 17, 2026.