Cockroaches force restaurants to close

A gruesome infestation of cockroaches forced the closure of three food outlets in one of the country’s upmarket shopping centres, it was revealed today.

Inspectors ordered the businesses in the Powerscourt Townhouse in central Dublin to shut down for several days last month after hordes of the grizzly insects were spotted.

The Health Service Executive said the pests caused a grave and immediate threat to health.

La Corte Italian restaurant, Quiznos Sub sandwich bar and the vegetarian eaterie Cafe Fresh were closed for several days and ordered to clean up.

HSE inspectors returned to the food outlets and gave them the all-clear.

Dr John O’Brien, Food Safety Authority of Ireland director, said it was a serious infestation.

“They were all affected by the cockroach infestation and the officer concerned had no option in fact because there was a grave danger to public health,” he said.

The cockroaches were first spotted in Cafe Fresh and it was immediately shut for five days from November 13. Further inspections found the infestation had spread to Quiznos two days later and it was shut down for four days and La Corte was found to have the insects on its premises and closed for five days.

Three other restaurants were 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 FSAI said inspectors had no option but to immediately shut the businesses.

Dr O’Brien 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.