Six restaurants closed for serious hygiene breaches

Three food outlets in the speciality Powerscourt Centre in central Dublin have been shut down following serious health fears.

Closure orders were served on La Corte Italian restaurant, Quiznos Sub sandwich bar and the vegetarian eaterie Café Fresh with warnings they posed a grave and immediate danger to public health.

Others forced out of business ahead of the busy Christmas period included Shan restaurant, Temple Bar, Buona Sera restaurant, Dundrum and the Canton Garden restaurant, Main Street, Summerhill, Meath.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said all had to be immediately shut for poor hygiene.

Dr John O’Brien, FSAI chief executive, urged businesses to be particularly vigilant about food safety during the Christmas party season.

“This is the time of year when large quantities of food will be bought in bulk and prepared several hours before consumption,” he said.

“This may place extra pressure on refrigeration facilities in catering establishments and influence staff operating systems so I would remind all food businesses to store food appropriately at all times.”

Dr O’Brien warned caterers and restaurateurs not to ignore hygiene during the busy period.

“Food businesses must ensure that they have robust food safety systems in place to cope with this extra demand. Shortcuts in food safety practices simply will not be tolerated by our inspectorate regardless of the time of year,” he added.

Closure Orders are served if inspection believe there is a grave and immediate danger to public health.