The Food Safety Authority of Ireland have cited ‘filthy conditions and unhygienic practices’ after eight closure orders were made against various retailers and restauranteurs.
Dead and live crawling insects, a rat in a drain and a lack of a wash hand basin in a meat preparation area were some of the reasons for the closure orders against businesses in counties Limerick, Meath, Cork, Tipperary Galway and Dublin.
In its report, the FSAI said inspectors saw a “live rat” in the yard near a defective open drain at the Khyber Garden restaurant in Kells Co.Meath
It said that a “live rat was emanating from the drain when the tap at the kitchen sink was switched on”. Rat droppings were also evident in the boiler room off the kitchen, the authority said.
The Mint Leaf restaurant in Drumcondra was found to have had dirty chopping boards, with “engrained dirt and black mould present”. The authority reported poor drainage facilities and a lack of a dedicated staff toilet at the restaurant.
A closure order was issued on Oldcourt East Bakery in Cork after inspectors found flies, crawling insects and cobwebs on surfaces and equipment throughout the main bakery and in associated areas.
The FSAI said that “four flies were observed in a mixture of dough”.
Chief Executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, said it was “very concerning” that the closure orders were issued due to filthy conditions and unhygienic practices.
“Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are served on food businesses only when a serious risk to consumer health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation.”
