During the month of October, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued 16 Enforcement Orders to food businesses across the country due to critical food safety violations.
Eight Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020, two Prohibition Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, and one Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. A Closure Order was also served under the FSAI Act, 1998.
The primary issues in October were serious and preventable, including infestations of rats, fruit and drain flies, extensive rodent droppings, and live maggots found on old food residue. Food safety inspections also found insufficient cleaning practices, missing or inaccessible handwashing stations, and a troubling absence of food safety management systems.
FSAI Chief Executive Dr Pamela Byrne emphasised the importance of rigorous food safety standards, particularly with the busy Christmas season approaching.
"Inadequate pest control measures, filthy premises, and unsafe food storage are once again the primary reasons for the Enforcement Orders served in October," Dr Byrne said. She urged businesses to be “especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law and to protect the health of their customers".
Basic yet essential steps like pest control, regular cleaning, and safe food handling are key to avoiding enforcement actions and keeping customers safe.
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 www.safehands.ie.