Discovery of rodent droppings prompts call for school meals food safety checks

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland stated conditions at The Lunch Bag's premises posed 'a grave and immediate danger to public health'

Social protection minister Dara Calleary is facing calls to strengthen food safety for school meals after an inspection found rodent droppings at a site operated by a provider on the scheme. 

The Lunch Bag was among 12 food businesses served with closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last week. 

An inspection of the company's premises at Timahoe GAA, Pairc Mhochua Cremorgan, Timahoe, Portlaoise, noted that rodent droppings were found on ovens, shelving and inside cupboards.

Dead insects were observed on window ledges and floors, while floors and sanitary conveniences were described as "unclean". 

The FSAI closure stated that conditions at the site "pose a grave and immediate danger to public health". 

The Lunch Bag did not respond to a request for comment from the Irish Examiner. 

In 2025, the company was also issued with a closure order by the FSAI after rat droppings were found at a site in Dublin 5 providing school lunches. 

Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins has written to Mr Calleary to raise the issue.

"I have always warmly welcomed the hot school meal programme," she states in a letter. 

"As someone who has worked in educational disadvantage for almost 20 years before becoming a TD, I know far too well the impact hunger has on children trying to learn. 

"I believe this programme should be expanded to secondary schools." 

'Too many discrepancies'

The current model is not providing children with good quality, nutritious food across the board, said Ms Cummins. 

She said: "There are far too many discrepancies in what children are experiencing in schools. We cannot have a system where depending on where you go to school and who the provider is determines the quality of the lunch.

"I am urging you to engage with Lunch Bag and all other providers as a matter of urgency to ensure this breach of health regulations does not happen again." 

Ms Cummins also sought support for the School Meals Nutritional Standards Bill 2026, which seeks to strengthen guidelines around food safety for hot school meals.

The bill "would put nutritional standards for State-funded school meals on statutory footing", she said. 

The Department of Social Protection did not respond to a request for comment from the Irish Examiner. 

In response to a recent parliamentary question, Mr Calleary said the school meals programme is "designed so that meals are provided by contracted food business operators". 

"This ensures responsibility for food safety and legislative compliance is placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves," he said.

• Jess Casey, Education Correspondent