Two food businesses were served with closure orders from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in February.
Four Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.
The outlets that were closed in February were Soma (Restaurant/Café), 23 Tuckey Street, Co Cork and Twisted Dough Wicklow (Service Sector), Food stall trading at The Crescent Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Rodent droppings were found in the vicinity of the service area of the restaurant and in a store room where food was kept.
There was risk of cross contamination at the food stall due to raw chicken being prepared on a folding table beside a coffee machine.
There was also an absence of running hot and cold water for the washing and disinfection of equipment.
Two Prohibition orders were served against Bally Bia (Manufacturer), Ballydehob Community Hall, Ballydehob, Co Cork and Irish Gold Venison Limited (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Ballinwillin House, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said: “The Enforcement Orders served in February highlight the need for all food businesses to meet their legal requirements of high standards of food safety, hygiene and pest control to prevent food contamination and protect consumer health.”
Dr Byrne added: “All food businesses must be notified to the relevant competent authority prior to operating. This requirement ensures that food businesses will be registered and/or approved with the appropriate inspection agency to ensure food safety and protect consumer health. Consumers have a right to safe food and food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure that the food they are processing, serving or selling is safe to eat.”
