The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that Environmental Health Officers in the HSE served 11 Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders on food businesses during July for breaches of food safety legislation.
The Enforcement Orders were issued under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, five Closure Orders were served under the European Union regulations, while one Prohibition Order was issued under each piece of legislation. Separately, the HSE also took two prosecutions during the month in relation to food safety offences.
The latest figures once again highlight the importance of maintaining robust food safety systems and ensuring staff receive the training needed to protect consumers and comply with Irish food safety law.
Serious Food Safety Failures Identified
The reasons behind the Enforcement Orders reveal a number of significant food safety failings across the affected businesses.
Among the issues identified were inadequate procedures to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods, failures to ensure food business operators and staff had received adequate training in the application of HACCP principles, and ready-to-eat foods being stored without appropriate labelling or monitoring records.
Inspectors also found evidence of pest infestations, including rodent droppings, a dead rodent close to food products and cockroach activity in food preparation areas.
In one particularly concerning case, inspectors identified a sewage contamination risk after human waste overflowed from a manhole in a staff toilet into a room storing food contact equipment adjacent to a food preparation area.
Other breaches included extensive food debris and poor standards of cleanliness throughout food premises, failures to maintain the cold chain because of defective refrigeration, inadequate cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment covered in grease and grime, and a disused cooker being used as a rubbish bin containing food debris and waste materials.
Inspectors also identified food safety risks arising from the improper defrosting and handling of frozen fish used in food preparation.
Why Ongoing HACCP Training Matters
Many of the issues identified during inspections could be prevented through effective food safety management systems, regular staff training and a strong food safety culture.
Food Safety and HACCP training helps employees understand how to prevent cross-contamination, maintain temperature controls, implement effective cleaning procedures, manage allergens correctly and identify potential hazards before they become serious risks.
Training should not be viewed as a one-off exercise. Regular refresher courses help reinforce good practices, keep staff up to date with legal requirements and ensure food businesses remain inspection ready throughout the year.
FSAI: Food Safety Controls Are Not Optional
Commenting on the latest Enforcement Orders, FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey said: “The issues identified in these Enforcement Orders are deeply concerning and demonstrate serious failures in basic food safety controls. We continue to see cases where essential requirements, including effective cleaning, pest control, safe food handling practices, staff training and food safety management systems, are not being properly implemented.
“These are not optional measures; they are legal requirements that every food business must have in place to protect consumers. Where businesses fail to meet these fundamental standards and public health is at risk, enforcement action will continue to be taken”.
Ensure Your Team Is Properly Trained
At SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions, we provide onsite Food Safety/HACCP Training and Certification for food businesses across Ireland, helping employers meet their legal obligations and maintain the highest food safety standards.
Our practical, face-to-face training gives staff the knowledge and confidence to identify hazards, prevent cross-contamination, maintain excellent hygiene standards and correctly implement HACCP principles 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.