Thurles Information

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that 16 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of September last; one of which was in the postal area of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The 16 Enforcement Orders were served for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.

Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Red Robin Takeaway LTD, River Street, Killenaule, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. {Dated 24/9/2024}
Antonio’s (Take Away), 61a Ballybough Road, Dublin 3.
The Lord Lucan Pub, Finnstown Shopping Centre, Lock Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
Coolmine Shawarma & Grilled (Closed activity: Storage, preparation, handling and cooking of raw meat at the premises) (Take Away), Unit 40B, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Porters Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Reasons given for closure of the Red Robin Takeaway premises was due to evidence of a rodent infestation, evidenced by rodent faeces clearly visible where open food contact materials were stored, and evidence of the lack of regular thorough cleaning in the kitchen area and throughout preparation areas.

Nine Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Glens Takeaway and Diner, Cappaughna, Glengarriff, Cork.
Grace’s Garden (Service Sector), Dublin Road, Shankhill, Co. Dublin.
Koffee and Kale (Restaurant/Café), 21B Hill Street, Dublin 1.
Spar (Closed area: Deli area only), Unit 3, 111 Reubens Square, Dolphins Barn, Dublin 8.
Kimex Ireland Limited (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit 7, Golden Bridge Industrial Estate, Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Osteria 99 Italian Cuisine (Restaurant/Café), 1st Floor, 99 Monkstown Road, Monkstown, Co. Dublin.
Polonez (Retailer), Unit 4, Walkinstown Retail Centre, Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
Café Sol, Cornelscourt Shopping Centre, Foxrock, Dublin 18.
That’s Amore (Restaurant/Café), 107 Monkstown Road, Monkstown, Co. Dublin.

One Improvement Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Sizzlers (Take Away), 41 William Street, Limerick.

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Hearty Sunshine (Health Food Shop/Pharmacy/Sports Nutrition), Unit 2A Block, Moore Street Mall, 55-66, Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in September include: a live rodent running across the floor of a food storage room; a dead rodent caught in a snap trap in a kitchen; clear evidence of a rodent attack on a bag of rice, along with bird droppings, feathers, and a dead bird present on the premises; active cockroach infestation beneath a cold service display unit storing uncovered food; inadequate procedures in place to control pests; repeated failure to cease handling raw meat in a premises which could not accommodate the safe storage, handling, preparation, and cooking of meat; lack of adequate, regular and thorough cleaning; no hot water, no soap and no facilities provided for hand washing and drying at the wash hand basin in the kitchen; persistent and recurring failure to comply with food hygiene legislation, demonstrating a complete absence of a food safety culture; false or misleading claims on a number of food products.

Dr Pamela Byrne, (Chief Executive, FSAI), said that food businesses must ensure that their premises are fully pest proofed.

“The number of Closure Orders served in September which listed evidence of widespread rodent or cockroach activity along with a lack of pest proofing, is very concerning. Pests can transmit very harmful pathogens to food, food surfaces and equipment and this presents a grave and immediate danger to public health. Every food business must ensure that they have a robust pest control system in place and that the system is checked regularly. It is crucial that swift and effective action is taken at the first sign of an infestation.
Consumers have an absolute right to expect safe food. There is no room for excuses and adhering to food safety standards is a legal obligation for every food business,” said Dr Byrne.

Also, during the month of September, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:

Cork Oriental Supermarket, 13 Dalton’s Avenue, Cork.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website.