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HomeBeefCompany ordered to withdraw over 3T of meat from sale
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Company ordered to withdraw over 3T of meat from sale

The FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) issued a prohibition order to a meat catering company last month.

Heaney Meats Catering Co. Limited, Lisoban Industrial Estate, Co Galway served the order under the FSAI Act, 1998.

Prohibition order

An authorised officer of the FSAI ordered the company to withdraw forty items from sale (over 3,000kgs worth of produce including beef, lamb and chicken) with “immediate effect”.

A letter reads:

“I make this order being of the opinion that the activities (handling, processing, disposal, manufacturing, storage, distribution or selling of food) involve or, are likely to involve, a serious risk to public health from the said items of food for the particular reasons set out in Part 2 of the schedule.”

The officer directed the company to ensure food is:

  • Not used for human consumption;
  • Recalled from sale or distribution (where applicable);
  • Detained pending destruction and disposal (as Category 3 animal by-products) under the supervision of an authorised officer of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland or an authorised officer of an official agency of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

The reasons for making the order included:

  • The company produced a product from raw material which had passed its use-by date;
  • The officer could not establish dates of freezing and use-by dates had expired;
  • Also, the officer could not establish traceability for other items and there was no use-by date;
  • The officer could not establish dates of freezing from the remaining items.
Closure orders

The FSAI reported that it issued four closure orders and one prohibition order during the month of August 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) and officers of the FSAI issued the enforcement orders.

Closure orders under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020:

  • J2 Sushi & Bento (Closed activities: Part of the activities of the business, its establishments, holdings or other premises be ceased namely the preparation and sale of sushi and sashimi), 75 Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin
  • Hempture and Hempland (All activities of the food business, its establishments, holdings or other premises and the internet sites and social media sites operated by food business be ceased for the purpose of placing food on the market), 6, 6a, 7, 7a Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1

Closure orders under the FSAI Act, 1998:

  • Johnny’s Grub Hub (Closed area: Food preparation and cooking shed adjacent to food stall situated at Pickardstown, Tramore, Co. Waterford), Pickardstown, Tramore, Co. Waterford
  • Good Coffee Matters Food Stall (Closed area: Namely the derelict building adjacent to the food stall used for storage of food and toilet facilities), Trading at Drumkeenan, Roscrea, Tipperary
Some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in August include:
  • No running water to the building that contained the toilets;
  • A dead bird was found on the premises;
  • No controls in place to control the risk associated with storage, preparation and offering for sale of sushi and sashimi;
  • An oven stored on the floor which could cause food contamination;
  • Protective clothing was stained and stored unprotected in an open yard area;
  • A derelict building which contained the toilet and storage of some foodstuffs was in an extremely dirty condition, evidenced by filth, grime and general waste throughout;
  • Failure to ensure that the competent authority had up-to-date information on the range of activities at the establishment; the placing of unsafe food on the market.
Follow food law at all times

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, warned that food businesses have a legal responsibility to act responsibly and ensure food they provide to customers is safe to eat.

She said: “There is no excuse for behaviour which has the potential to put consumers’ health at risk.”

“We are once again appealing to all food businesses to ensure they are fully compliant with food safety procedures and hygiene legislation.”

“Consumers have a right to safe food. In turn, food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure the food they provide is safe to eat.”

She stressed that food business owners must ensure that their business is complying with food law at all times.

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