The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that eight Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses in June for breaches of food safety legislation. These orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
Some of the recurring issues that led to enforcement action included:
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Significant rodent activity and inadequate pest control measures
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No access to clean water for hand washing or cleaning utensils
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Food stored at unsafe temperatures, increasing the risk of contamination
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Pooling water mixed with blood and raw meat on the floors of cold storage areas
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Lack of cleaning agents or detergents for effective sanitation
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Poorly designed or maintained food preparation areas
These basic failures in food safety management can have serious consequences for public health, including the spread of harmful pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes.
Dr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive of the FSAI, highlighted the gravity of these findings, saying: “Every food business has a legal responsibility to ensure the food they produce is safe to eat. Failures like poor hygiene, pest activity, and improper storage are basic errors that can have severe consequences to public health. Food safety isn’t optional, it’s essential…
"A robust food safety management system not only protects public health, but it also supports the long-term success of the food business.”
At SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions, we understand the daily challenges that food businesses face in maintaining compliance – but food safety should never be compromised. We provide practical, onsite Food Safety/HACCP Level 2 training and certification to help your team stay inspection-ready and operate confidently within the law.
Don’t leave your business at risk of enforcement action or reputational damage. Contact SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions today to strengthen your food safety systems and protect your customers.