Closure order issued on Cork business due to evidence of gnawed packaging and pest droppings 

Evidence of pest activity including gnawed packaging and pest droppings were among the reasons for the closure of a Cork food business last month.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued the closure order, under the FSAI Act, 1998, on the director of Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), which is based at 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork on December 20 last year.

The order was lifted on January 3 this year.

According to the inspectors report: "The construction of the food premises did not permit good hygiene practices, including against contamination, in particular, pest control.

"This was evidenced by evidence of pest activity - gnawed packaging of goods, with dropping of pests noted on oats.

"Rodent droppings were noted at wall/floor junctions throughout the back storage area where the cold room is located," the report continued.

The inspector said that it was likely to be of "grave and immediate danger to public health".

The publication of the December closures came as the FSAI stated that 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase of 45% on the 92 that were served in 2023.

Commenting on the annual figures, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that the increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024 was unacceptable.

"Enforcement Orders, especially Closure and Prohibition Orders, are never issued for minor breaches; they are served only when a serious risk to consumer health is identified or when ongoing breaches of food legislation pose significant hygiene or operational issues," Dr Byrne said.

"Inadequate or absent pest control procedures was a recurring issue throughout 2024 and pest control needs to be addressed by all food businesses this year. Every food business must have robust pest control procedures in place to ensure that pests are not getting into their businesses and putting consumers’ health at risk.”