Bird poo, dead flies and rodent droppings among reasons for food business closures

Ten businesses were shut down last month for food safety reasons. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Bird faeces, dead flies and rodent droppings were among the reasons that food businesses across the country were forced to close in August.

The latest enforcement report from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) was published on Tuesday and showed that 10 businesses were shut down last month for food safety reasons.

Ten enforcement orders were served on businesses in August — nine closure orders and one prohibition order.

Four of the closure orders broke the FSAI's own rules on food safety

• Ginzeng in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre was found to have rodent droppings on the floor of the restaurant and also on dinner plates which were being stored in the dry goods storage area. It closed on August 24 and re-opened on August 28.
• Bakers and Baristas, also in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, saw its external dry storage area (including the cold room) closed by inspectors. This was due to an inspector finding rodent droppings present on the floor and on the shelving. It closed on August 17 and re-opened on August 28.

• The Cashel Curry and Pizza House in Tipperary was closed by FSAI inspectors after an inspection on August 17 cited a "grave and immediate danger" to the public. This was due to inadequate pest control practices, having previously been warned about said issues back in April. It re-opened on August 22.
• D Grill on Aungier Street in Dublin city was found to have multiple issues by the FSAI. These included a lack of allergen information, problems with food storage at correct temperatures and "unhygienic conditions" throughout. It re-opened on August 17 having been shut three days earlier.

Five other businesses were shut down by the FSAI after they broke European Union rules around food.

These were:

• Mizzonis Pizza in Navan, Meath, which was found to have no running hot water available in the business and a "lack of adequate, regular cleaning". It closed on August 2 and re-opened two days later.
• Paddy O'Dwyer Quality Meats, a butchers in Cashel in Tipperary, was shut by the FSAI due to a number of reasons, one of which was non-compliances in relation to cooling and/or record keeping — which had been previously brought to their attention in seven different inspections. It closed on August 2 but re-opened on August 3.
• Dalesann Haulage Limited, operating from Jamestown House in Dublin, was closed by the FSAI on August 2 and has yet to re-open. An inspection found bird faeces in "multiple areas", including on food products. Furthermore, dead flies were noted on the premises. The roof was also leaking, with a flooded warehouse floor as a result.
• McSorley's Centra in Enniscorthy, Wexford was also found to have a 'rodent issue' with droppings being noted in a number of different areas. An FSAI inspection noted that overflowing bins may have been causing the issue, though a hole in the wall that had been previously reported had not yet been sealed either. It closed on August 3 and re-opened on August 9
• The Bernard Shaw in Glasnevin, Dublin had its basement area (including food rooms, staff facilities and adjacent storage rooms) all closed. An FSAI inspection found numerous leaks and holes in the ceilings and there was serious flooding of the floor of the basement.
  The order continued: "Damp and mould was evident on the walls, doors and floors and ceilings throughout the basement. Furthermore, both the Ladies and Gents cubicles of the staff toilets were flooded and the source of this water was unclear." The facilities were "filthy and a "foul odour" was present, with walls, floors, doors and ceilings of the basement "heavily soiled with dirt and black mould." Staff's personal items like clothing and shoes were heavily soiled. It closed on August 25 and has yet to re-open.