The Food Safety Authority of Ireland today reported that two Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June for breaches of food safety legislation. The Closure Orders were issued by environmental health officers.
Some of the reasons for these Closure Orders in June included an active cockroach infestation in the cockroach trap in the motor of the food preparation fridge; live and dead cockroaches on the floor beneath the food preparation fridge; failure of a premises to comply with an Improvement Order; food handlers unable to demonstrate adequate knowledge and comprehension of basic food hygiene principles; failure to implement a permanent procedure of hazard analysis based on the principles of HACCP; and a premises not fully pest proofed.
Commenting today, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI, emphasised the need for food businesses to have adequate pest control systems and robust food hygiene practices in place, particularly as restaurants and other food businesses begin to reopen following the lifting of restrictions due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “The Closure Orders in June demonstrate the importance of all businesses operating to the highest standards of food safety as the country continues to face this public health pandemic. Many food businesses are reopening to customers having been closed for a number of months. Food business owners need to ensure that there hasn’t been any pest activity in or around their premises. Now is the time to carry out a deep clean of a food business to ensure that all food contact surfaces and utensils are clean and safe for use.
“It is a legal requirement for all staff working in food businesses to be supervised and instructed, and/or trained in food safety and hygiene. It is not acceptable that last month’s Closure Orders showed that a number of food workers at these food businesses did not have even a basic knowledge or training in food safety and hygiene.”
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
SafeHands’ next Food Safety/HACCP Level 1&2 Course is in the Skylon Hotel in Drumcondra, Dublin 9, on Saturday July 18, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. This is a classroom based course which meets the requirements of The Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Irish Food Safety Legislation. For more information visit www.safehands.ie/haccp-level-2-training or call 017979836.