RAW food on dirty floors, rodents and cockroaches were just some of the reasons a number of food outlets were closed in Ireland last month.
Ten food businesses were closed by environmental health officers from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) during the month of September for breaches of food safety legislation.
Dr Pamela Byrne, FSAI Chief Executive, said: “There were 10 closure orders served on food businesses in September and common non-compliances are filthy conditions and poor hygiene.
"Some of the specific reasons the orders were served this month include: evidence of rodent infestation; failure to maintain temperatures of foodstuffs; filthy conditions with aged dirt and debris; unsuitable food storage facilities; evidence of extensive cockroach infestation; and raw chicken stored on a dirty floor.”
The FSAI has been publishing the names of food businesses served enforcement orders for over a decade.
But said that it will now publish the full details of each Enforcement Order every month on its website.
"We believe this initiative will help to dispel any misinformation regarding the reasons why Enforcement Orders are served and will also let other food businesses know some of the things to avoid in their premises,” Dr Byrne added.
It says it only enforces closures when there is a serious risk to consumer health or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation.
In September Closure Orders were served on outlets including Glebe Gardens and Café in Baltimore, Cork after mice were discovered in the Bakery Storeroom and a Spar store on 23 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4 due to a significant rodent infestation.
Closure orders were also issues for Akash restaurant and café, 7 George's Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin; a food storage unit at Larry's Marino Fair in Dublin 3 and Caspian Pizza restaurant and café in Donegal Town.
Alfredos take away on Ballybane Road, Galway was also issued with a closure order after inspectors deemed it 'likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health'.
A successful prosecution was also carried out by the Health Service Executive in relation to Beachcomber Bar, Kerrs Bay, Rathmullan, Donegal.
