The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that 15 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses in May for serious breaches of food safety legislation. These included 10 Closure Orders and 5 Prohibition Orders, issued under both the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
Environmental Health Officers from the HSE, along with FSAI officers, uncovered a wide range of violations – many of which are entirely avoidable with proper training, basic hygiene practices, and a functional food safety management system.
Key Issues: Unclean Premises, Pest Infestation, and Untrained Staff
Among the most alarming findings were rodent droppings, dead insects in food areas, inadequate pest control, and lack of handwashing or proper sanitation during food preparation. Several operations were also found to be unregistered, operating without oversight, and storing food in unsuitable conditions such as unrefrigerated containers on grass.
One incident even involved the unlawful use of identification marks from approved establishments on food produced in an unapproved domestic kitchen, raising serious traceability and safety concerns. The absence of basic requirements – like hot water, hand soap, temperature monitoring, and traceability documentation – was a common theme throughout the inspections.
“No excuse for preventable issues,” warns FSAI
FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey did not mince words in addressing the ongoing non-compliance, insisting: “The high number of Enforcement Orders in May is disappointing, especially as the type of non-compliances, such as unclean premises and pest infestations, are all preventable where the business has a food safety management system in place and staff are properly trained.”
He also reiterated the importance of registering food businesses with the appropriate authorities and stressed that those who attempt to operate outside the law will be pursued.
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