Rodent droppings force closure of Cork primary school kitchen

Evidence of rodent droppings and other pest activity found in the kitchen area of a northside primary school led to it being among three Cork food businesses among 16 across the country to be served with closure orders during October, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed.

The closed kitchen area of Ó Crualaoi Butchers and Delicatessen at Scoil Mhuire Fatima in the North Monastery Primary School on Cork’s northside was served with a closure order on October 23 under the 1998 Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act along with the Grain and Gain Restaurant/Café at the Bypass Business Park in Bandon, which was served with a closure order on October 2.

A closure order was also served on the Baking Emporium (foods of non-animal origin processing), located at Bridgemount House in Dunmanway on October 4. 

While the closure order on the northside primary school was lifted on November 2, the closure order on the Bandon premises has not yet been lifted. The closure order on the Baking Emporuim in Dunmanway was lifted on October 10.

Pest control

According to the report following the inspection at the northside school, the construction of the premises did not permit “good food hygiene practices including against contamination, in particular, pest control”.

“This was evidenced by pest activity which was noted in the kitchen,” the report stated.

“Rodent droppings were noted in a press under the wash stand basin and a press under the pot wash sink. Other rodent droppings were noted in a three other presses that contained a water machine, glasses, and pots.”

FSAI chief executive Pamela Byrne, reiterated the need for food businesses to have adequate pest control systems in place, that they need to operate strict food safety procedures at all times, and need to be vigilant “during this particularly busy time of year leading up to Christmas”.

“A high number of the enforcement orders were associated with issues related to pests as well as failures to maintain adequate cleaning,” she said. “These issues are all preventable and food businesses must ensure that they always adhere to a high standard of food safety and hygiene.”