115 closure orders served to businesses for food safety breaches in 2024

Thu, 09 Jan, 2025 - 12:03

Eva Osborne

115 closure orders were issued by health officers in 2024 for breaches of food safety legislation, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

In total, 133 enforcement orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase of 45 per cent on the 92 that were served in 2023.

In December 2024, nine closure orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation.

These closure orders were served to:

Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork;
Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath;
K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11;
Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford;
Lam's Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny;
Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2;
Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary;
Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5;
Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5.

Between January 1st and December 31st, 2024, 115 closure orders, 16 prohibition orders, and two improvement orders were issued by health officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses throughout the country.

The FSAI said a number of recurring food safety issues identified in food businesses resulted in enforcement orders being issued, including a lack of pest control procedures; inadequate regular and thorough cleaning; failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs; unsuitable food storage facilities; and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.

Commenting on the annual figures, the chief executive of FSAI Dr Pamela Byrne said the increase in enforcement orders in 2024 was unacceptable.

“It is concerning to see a significant increase in enforcement orders in 2024. Consumers have a right to safe food and negligent food practices are inexcusable," she said.

"The types of reasons cited for enforcement orders are simple errors that should not be happening in any food business. 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.

"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.”