Castletownbere-based seafood firm hit with food safety prohibition order

A Castletownbere-based seafood company was served with a prohibition order last month and six food businesses around the country were closed down, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in its latest announcement of enforcement orders.

Among the six food businesses served with closure orders in January were a fish shop in Dublin and a Chinese restaurant in Tipperary town.

In addition, the HSE carried out two successful prosecutions last month against the Tralee Central Hotel, and Salvadors/The Med in Killarney.

A prohibition order was served in January against Shellfish De la Mer, a fish processing firm in Castletownbere in Co Cork. It was served on January 30, according to the FSAI, and was made in relation to one batch of scallops.

Prohibition orders are issued where there are concerns over a possible risk to public health and in this case the order was limited to a specific batch of scallops.

A spokesman for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority said the issue arose during a routine programme of surveillance.

A spokesman for Shellfish de la Mer said: “Food safety management is an area which Shellfish de la Mer, as the largest employer in Castletownbere, are deeply committed and we would like to assure consumers that no product has been placed on the market by Shellfish de la Mer that is unsafe to eat.”

Elsewhere, four closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on the A1 Kebab takeaway on Castle St, Roscommon; the River View Chinese restaurant and takeaway, Abbey St, Tipperary Town; the Grill to Chill takeaway on 4 Oliver Plunkett Rd, Letterkenny, Co Donegal; and Clare’s Pizzeria takeaway on 54 New Rd in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

The Giles Brothers’ Fish Shop, 167 Phibsborough, Dublin 7, and the Green Masala Indian restaurant and takeaway, Westgate, Wexford, were the subject of closure orders under the EC (Official controls of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010.

FSAI chief Prof Alan Reilly said: “Full compliance with food safety and hygiene standards is essential for all food businesses.