Health fears see food outlets closed

Environmental health inspectors have shut down an Indian takeaway, a fast food outlet, a restaurant and a pub bar for food safety breaches, it emerged today.

The closure orders were served on: the Irish Indian Take Away in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; Nite Bites in Doneraile, County Cork; the Jade Garden restaurant in Raphoe, County Donegal; and The Boot Inn in Cloghran, County Dublin.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said the closure orders were issued last month because there was likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at the premises.

Chief Executive, John O’Brien said it was disappointing that some businesses still had not implemented the necessary controls and systems to ensure their food was safe.

“Enforcement officers only resort to serving closure orders on a food business when standards have fallen very low and the public’s health has been put at risk,” he said.

“All food businesses must implement a food safety management system, it is part of their legal obligation. Consumers need to be reassured that the food they purchase is of the highest quality and is safe to consume.”

The FSAI said that the closure order on the Boot Inn in Cloghran related only to the preparation of food and did not affect the normal pub business.

The closure orders will remain on the FSAI’s website for three month after the businesses have rectified the food safety problems identified by the inspectors.