Watchdog finds 11 premises in breach of food safety laws

The Food Safety Authority said there was no justification for businesses to be in breach of the food safety legislation, after 11 enforcement orders were served last month on hotels, restaurants, takeaway and wholesale providers.

“There can be no justification for these breaches, which can potentially put consumers’ health at risk and undermine the confidence they should expect to have in the safety of the food they eat,” said Pamela Byrne, the chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

“This has serious negative implications not only for the individual businesses involved, but for the wider food industry.”

Dr Byrne urged food businesses to take full advantage of information and support provided by inspectors and the FSAI to ensure they have correct food safety management systems in place.

Co Wexford’s The Millrace Hotel in Carrigduff, Bunclody had been served with a closure order for all its food preparation and service.

The Milebush Bar and Restaurant at Fairgreen, Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise, Co Laois, saw its preparation and service of food also closed down by environmental health officers, while Fryer’s take-away on Patrick Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon was also issued with a closure order.

A further seven closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. They were issued to the: n Posh Nosh (restaurant), Unit 4, Castlemill SC, Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, Dublin. n Craigs Fresh (wholesale), Drumnabratty, Raphoe, Donegal. n Carpenters Butchers (closed activity: the cooking and handling of cooked chickens in the premises), Farrell Street, Kells, Meath. n Tamarind Thai Restaurant, Unit 3, 4 and 5 Carraig House, Matt Talbot Road, Tralee. n Indie at Home (takeaway), Unit 3, North Street Business Park, Swords, Co Dublin. n La Boulangerie des Gourmets (bakery), Unit 42, North Park, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. n Beachview Tandoori (takeaway), Strand Road, Laytown, Meath One

Meanwhile, a prohibition order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on Ahmed Foods (wholesale), Millennium Business Park, Blanchardstown, Co Dublin. Also last month, the HSE succeeded in a court case against Kearney’s Castle Hotel at Main Street, Cashel, Co Tipperary for a breach of a regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs.