Food outlets closed over hygiene

ALMOST 40 food businesses were ordered to close this year while 67 were served with enforcement orders due to a lack of hygiene standards.

The annual figures released by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) show an overall reduction in the number of Enforcement Orders served in 2002. Last year saw 77 enforcement orders issued, 10 more than this year’s total. Thirty-seven businesses were closed temporarily after inspections found conditions likely to pose a serious health risk to the public.

However, FSAI chief executive, Dr Patrick Wall warned that the figures are not yet low enough: “It is encouraging to see a decline in the amount of Enforcement Orders being served. Food businesses are realising that the future of their business lies in their own hands. While most businesses are committed to high standards for the health of their customers and the good of their business, we hope that the threat of being published will be an incentive to push businesses to maintain proper standards.”