FSAI closes canteen at Cork meat factory

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued three closure orders to food businesses in May 2021.

The businesses served the orders 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.

Environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) issued the closure orders.

They issued one closure order  under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Kens Oriental Restaurant, 1st Floor, Quintins Way, Pearse Street, Nenagh, Tipperary

Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Factory canteen operated independently by KC Catering at ABP Food Group, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Cork
• Your Stop NR Farranree (retailer), 6 Popam’s Road, Farranree, Cork

Some of the reasons outlined for the closure orders in May were:

• Rodent activity – including dead rodents – underneath the chest freezer in the food preparation area and underneath a freezer in the storeroom next to the kitchen;
• Rodent droppings in a container in the food preparation area which stored food contact equipment;
• Evidence of rodent damage to packages of pasta; food premises not maintained in a clean and hygienic condition;
• Plumbing issues resulted in damage to the floor and caused pooling of water on the floor;
• Part of the floor was damaged and not in a fit state to be cleaned effectively;
• Falsified food safety records were identified along with an absence of a food safety management system. This included the risk of food contamination and posing a risk to food safety.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive, FSAI, emphasised that all food businesses must take responsibility and commit to ensuring high food safety standards and compliance with food law.

“The food inspectors continue to find unacceptable levels of non-compliance with food safety legislation in some food businesses.”

She stated that it is a legal requirement for all food businesses to have their premises protected against pests and kept clean.

“However, time after time inspectors are finding regular incidents of rodent infestations and filthy premises highlighting a disregard for basic food safety management.”

“Consumers have a right to safe food and we would urge anyone who is concerned or suspect there is unusual activity being demonstrated by a food business, that they can contact us via our online complaint form.”