In March, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland took action against several food businesses for violating food safety regulations outlined in the FSAI Act of 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations of 2020. Environmental Health Officers from the Health Service Executive issued ten Enforcement Orders to food businesses across Ireland.
These orders comprised one Closure Order under the FSAI Act of 1998, eight Closure Orders under the European Union Regulations of 2020, and one Prohibition Order, also under the European Union Regulations of 2020. The violations leading to these orders were concerning, ranging from improper storage of various meats in freezers and walk-in fridges with no traceability, to the presence of rat droppings and inadequate cleaning practices throughout the premises.
Among the other reported issues were persistent failures to maintain hygiene standards, overflow of unclean water into food preparation areas, lack of proper training for staff, incomplete allergen information, and general uncleanliness across various surfaces within the kitchen.
FSAI Chief Executive Dr Pamela Byrne said: “March saw a high number of Enforcement Orders and some of the reasons listed demonstrate totally inadequate hygiene standards.
“Consumers have a right to safe food and this legal obligation sits with the food business operators. These food businesses are damaging the reputation of the food industry as a whole and can impact the trust that consumers have in the food they eat.
“Environmental Health Officers, who inspect these food businesses, continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk, particularly through a failure to comply with hygiene requirements, pest control and food safety training requirements, which is unacceptable.”
If you require onsite Food Safety/HACCP training and certification for your staff, a Food Safety/HACCP system specifically designed for your food business or Food Safety advice, please contact SafeHands by phone on 01-7979836 or mobile on 0873823223, email info@safehands.ie or visit our website https://www.safehands.ie.