Sixteen food outlets closed for poor hygiene

A TOTAL of 16 Irish restaurants and takeaways have been shut down so far in 2005 due to breaches in food safety legislation, it emerged yesterday.

In the latest raids, environmental health officers closed two premises in Dublin and one in Cork during July.

A closure order is served when an inspector believes there is a grave and immediate danger to public health.

The business owner is given time to rectify the breaches before the next inspection but the premises is blacklisted on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) website for three months.

The July closure orders were served on Dao Ning House restaurant, Main Street, Charleville, Co Cork; Oceanic grocery, 12 Moore Street, Dublin 1, and Five Star Kitchen takeaway, 3 Terenure Road North, Dublin 6.

The FSAI said it was disappointed with standards in some premises and that the same preventable faults were re-occurring.

Chief executive Dr John O’Brien food businesses need to be vigilant of ensuring best hygiene practices during hot temperatures in summer months.

“It is disappointing that a total of 16 Irish food businesses have been closed to date this year due to breaches in food safety legislation,” he said.

“This action is taken when there is, or is likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to consumer health from unsafe food practices at a particular food premises.

“The message is clear; standards must not be permitted to slip to such a low level that consumers are put at risk.”

Two prohibition orders were also served on foodstall operators in July: Sarl Bleu Kiwi Food Stall, Frank Cassin Wharf, Port of Waterford, Waterford City and on Adam Green, Killowen Orchard, Killowen, Portlaw, Waterford.

A prohibition order is issued if a product on sale is deemed a serious risk to public health.

Mr O’Brien said a food safety management plan was not difficult to implement and easily preventable faults were of serious concern.