Five Closure Orders served on food businesses in June

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that five Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June 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 (HSE).

Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• The Hudson Rooms (restaurant) (Closed area: Ground floor bar and indoor seating area), Unit 3 Western End Rotunda, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road North, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
• The Hudson Rooms (restaurant) (Closed area: Ground floor kitchen area, first floor bar and rear storage to ensure entire food operation has ceased), Unit 3 Western End Rotunda, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road North, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
• Apache Pizza, 37 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
• Roma Take Away, Main Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois

One Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Han Lin Palace (now under new management from 18 June 2022) (restaurant), 13-15 Bridge Street, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in June include: a lack of pest prevention and control measures with rodent droppings visible in the premises; food handlers demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the use of protective clothing and headgear, as well as a lack of understanding to prevent contamination from jewellery when preparing food; personal items such as a vape kit, car keys and mobile phones stored directly above cooling food; a lack of adequate labelling to facilitate traceability; undeclared allergen information; inadequate handwashing facilities and no food safety management system in place.

Also, during the month of June, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:

• Freestyle Buffet, 23-24 North Main Street, Cork

Commenting today, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that it is unacceptable that staff are unaware of their responsibilities as food handlers.

“Food business owners have a duty to their customers, their staff and themselves to ensure food regulations are being followed on their premises.

“It is not acceptable firstly that staff are not wearing appropriate protective clothing and secondly that they are unaware of the risks of possible food contamination when they do not follow such food preparation guidance.

“Staff must be properly trained and/or supervised to ensure compliance with the legal requirements and attention must be paid to the basics of good handwashing, effective cleaning and proper storage of food. These legal requirements are in place to ensure that consumers’ health is not being put at risk.

“Enforcement Orders are not served for minor breaches and consumers have a right to safe food.”

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.

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.