Restaurant closures up 30% in food safety sweep

THE number of restaurants, supermarkets and takeaways served with closure orders by the country’s food safety watchdog jumped by 30% in the first six months of this year.

Three food retailers were served with closure orders last month, bringing the total for the half year to 24, compared with 18 last year, according to figures just released by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

Environmental health officers serve closure orders when they believe there is a serious and immediate danger to public health.