Rodent poop and poor hand hygiene among reasons for food business closures in January

Four businesses in Ireland were in breach of food safety legislation in January, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed. 

According to the FSAI, four enforcement orders were served on businesses including two closure orders on a butchers shop and the food storage room at a popular convenience store. 

Reasons for the enforcement orders in January include raw fish stored in a non-food grade cardboard box, rodent droppings present throughout the premises and food storage areas, a large amount of perishable food stored in a non-operating freezer, raw meat being prepared in a sink used to wash hands, food and equipment, and failure to wash hands before or after the handling of raw meat, among other reasons.

F Herterich's Pork Butchers on 1 Lombard Street, Galway and the food store room at O'Briens Gala, Cloughleigh Road, Ennis, Clare were closed under the FSAI Act 1998. 

Rodent droppings were found both at the butchers shop and O'Briens Gala, which resulted in the subsequent closures. 

Another closure order was served to Golden Palace restaurant/café in Whitehall, Dublin 9 under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020. 

According to the FSAI, inspectors found several unclean areas in Golden Palace, including floors, ceilings, taps and handles, dishwasher trays, vents, plug points and order dispenser. 

A "significant" risk of cross-contamination was noted.

Additionally, staff were observed wearing disposable gloves while preparing food and taking out the rubbish, and were not seen washing their hands at any point during the inspection. 

A prohibition order was served to the Mercury retailer on Park Road, Waterford under the same act. 

The FSAI inspector found a large amount of perishable food being stored in a freezer that was not operating, as well as raw fish in a cardboard box. 

Products withdrawn following the Mercury inspection include fresh pirch, wobble, and fresh smelt, as well as all contents of a four door glass stand up freezer located in front of the deli currently labelled 'not for sale' and blocked by pallets. 

Chief Executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, stressed the importance of complying with food safety legal requirements that have been set to ensure the protection of consumer health.

She said, "In January, there continued to be a number of food businesses who failed to ensure appropriate food safety management systems were in place and operating correctly.

"It is a legal requirement that all food businesses take responsibility in ensuring their premises are maintained to the standard required by Irish food law. Food safety requirements are put in place to protect the health of consumers. Consumers have a right to safe food.

"By failing to keep reasonable food safety and hygiene standards in place, a business not only poses a risk to the health of their customers, but also to their own reputation as a trustworthy and safe food business."