The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed that 13 Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were issued to food businesses during June following inspections that uncovered significant breaches of food safety legislation.
The enforcement action was carried out by Environmental Health Officers from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and authorised officers of the FSAI under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
Of the enforcement actions taken, eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, while five Closure Orders were issued under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. In addition, one Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998, preventing specific food-related activities from continuing until the risks to public health had been addressed.
Wide Range of Serious Breaches Identified
The inspection findings revealed a catalogue of food safety failures across a number of businesses.
Inspectors discovered evidence of pest infestations in food preparation areas, including live cockroaches, slugs, spiders and woodlice. In other premises, rodent droppings were found on food packaging, shelving used to store food and food contact equipment, creating a significant contamination risk.
Several businesses failed to provide suitable handwashing facilities, while food was found to be inadequately protected from contamination during storage and preparation.
Poor cleaning standards also featured prominently. Inspectors reported chopping boards black with mould, cooking equipment coated in heavy black grease and food debris, and food preparation areas that had clearly not been maintained to an acceptable hygienic standard.
Poor Premises and Food Safety Management
Some businesses were also found to have structural and management deficiencies that made safe food preparation difficult.
These included plastic wall sheeting being used as makeshift doorways in food rooms and staff toilets, premises with unsuitable layouts that lacked designated food preparation areas, and food being stored at incorrect temperatures.
Inspectors also identified businesses operating without effective food traceability systems, making it difficult to identify and remove unsafe food from the supply chain if required.
In one particularly concerning case, a food worker was observed wearing an unclean uniform that was heavily stained and covered in old food debris.
Another serious breach involved a food business operating without notifying the relevant competent authority, meaning it had bypassed the legal registration process and the food safety oversight that comes with it.
Commenting on the June Enforcement Orders, FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey said:
“It is unacceptable that we continue to see enforcement action being required due to basic and repeated breaches of food safety standards. Effective food safety management systems, proper hygiene practices, pest control and staff training are fundamental legal obligations of every food business. Consumers have a right to safe food, and it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that food is produced, handled and served safely.”
“It is also concerning that, we have found instances of unregistered food businesses, operating illegally without notifying the competent authority, therefore bypassing essential food safety controls and putting consumers health at risk. Food law requires all food businesses to be notified to the relevant competent authority irrespective of the size or type of food business. This requirement ensures that food businesses will be registered and/or approved with the appropriate inspection agency to ensure food safety and protect consumer health,” added Mr Dempsey.
Key Lessons for Food Businesses
The June enforcement actions demonstrate that food safety failures are not limited to hygiene alone. Effective compliance also depends on proper premises design, pest control, temperature monitoring, traceability, staff hygiene and ensuring the business is legally registered with the relevant competent authority.
Many of these issues can be prevented through robust food safety management systems, regular internal checks and ongoing staff training. Every member of staff should understand their responsibilities and follow safe food handling procedures every day.
How SafeHands Can Help
SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions provides onsite Food Safety/HACCP Training and Certification for food businesses across Ireland, helping employers meet their legal obligations and maintain high food safety standards.
Our practical, face-to-face courses equip staff with the knowledge to identify hazards, prevent cross-contamination, maintain excellent hygiene standards and correctly implement Food Safety/HACCP procedures in the workplace.
If you want to reduce the risk of enforcement action, protect your customers and demonstrate your commitment to food safety compliance, contact SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions today to arrange onsite Food Safety/HACCP training for your team.