The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that Environmental Health Officers within the HSE served five Closure Orders and five Prohibition Orders on food businesses during September for breaches of food safety legislation, under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
Three Closure Orders were issued under the FSAI Act, 1998, while two were made under the EU Regulations. Likewise, two Prohibition Orders were served under the FSAI Act and three under the EU Regulations.
The reasons behind these enforcement actions highlight the serious consequences of inadequate food safety controls. EHOs reported evidence of pest activity – including a live rat observed on a premises and droppings throughout food storage areas – as well as holes and gaps in walls, lack of basic hygiene provisions such as hot water and soap at handwashing stations, and dirty or poorly maintained food preparation areas.
Other issues included unsafe food storage temperatures, food sold past its sell-by date, poor management of raw fish products, and no evidence of staff training in essential food safety controls.
These examples underline the critical importance of having a robust food safety management system, based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, and ensuring that all staff are properly trained to implement it.
FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey said: “It’s concerning that we continue to see serious and recurring breaches of food safety law. These types of breaches are preventable where food businesses have a proper, robust food safety management system in place and ensure staff are adequately trained.”
Failure to meet these legal obligations doesn’t just risk Enforcement Orders – it can also lead to reputational damage, loss of consumer trust, and serious financial consequences.
At SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions, we provide comprehensive Food Safety/HACCP training designed to help businesses meet their legal requirements, protect public health, and prevent costly enforcement actions.
Our training ensures your team understands food safety hazards, implements effective controls, and maintains the highest hygiene standards – keeping your business compliant and your customers safe.
Don’t wait for an inspection to reveal shortcomings. Contact SafeHands today to discuss our Food Safety/HACCP training programmes and ensure your business stays on the right side of the law.