Cockroaches and rodents prompted closure of Irish food outlets

Mon, 09 Oct, 2017 - 13:37

Rodent and cockroach infestations, dirty premises and out of date food were just some of the reasons for the closure of 10 restaurants and food outlets in September by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

An "extensive infestation of cockroaches" was discovered by inspectors in the kitchen of Akash restaurant in Blackrock, Co Dublin the FSAI said on Monday.

The same restaurant was closed in 2014 after live and dead cockroaches were discovered on the premises.

A "significant rodent infestation" was found in the Spar at Upper Baggot Street in Dublin.

The FSAI closure order reported the discovery of rat droppings and said a "grave and immediate danger to food safety exists".

The bakery storeroom at Glebe Gardens and Cafe in Baltimore, Cork, was closed due to an infestation of mice.

In Westmeath, Chens Oriental Taste on Main Street, Rochfortbridge, was found to have dirty premises, workers wearing dirty clothes and boxes of raw chicken being stored on a dirty floor.

Dirty premises and out of date food, including raw chicken legs, were discovered at Harrys Bar and Restaurant in Bridgend, Donegal.

Other closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation were served to: a food storage unit at Larry's Marino Fair at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin; Caspian Pizza, at Main Street in Donegal Town; Alfredos in Ballybane Shopping Centre, Galway; The Village Store/Kelly's Last Chance Bar, Rathcabbin, Tipperary and Corrib Catering, Leisureland, Salthill.

Also in September the Beachcomber Bar in Rathmullan, Donegal was fined 500 euro following a successful prosecution taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to food safety standards.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said enforcement orders are served on food businesses "only when a serious risk to consumer health has been established or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation."

She added that the information has been published to help "dispel any misinformation regarding the reasons why enforcement orders are served and will also let other food businesses know some of the things to avoid in their premises".

"There were ten closure orders served on food businesses in September and common non-compliances are filthy conditions and poor hygiene.

"Some of the specific reasons the orders were served this month include: evidence of rodent infestation; failure to maintain temperatures of foodstuffs; filthy conditions with aged dirt and debris; unsuitable food storage facilities; evidence of extensive cockroach infestation; and raw chicken stored on a dirty floor," she added.

Full details of enforcement orders are to be published every month on the FSAI website.

The detailed closure orders can be accessed here.