The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served 13 Enforcement Orders on food businesses in September.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI emphasised the serious nature of a food business being served an Enforcement Order.
She said Enforcement Orders, especially Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders, are used only when a serious risk to health has been identified or where there are a number of ongoing breaches of food legislation
Dr Byrne said: “Enforcement Orders and most especially Closure Orders and Prohibition Orders are never served for minor food safety breaches.
"Food inspectors have a range of other powers available to them, apart from Enforcement Orders that they can use for more minor breaches that they identify in a food business. The full suite of powers afforded to food inspectors working on behalf of the FSAI are in place to fundamentally protect consumers and restrict a food business from supplying food where there could be a risk to the safety of that food."
There were six businesses served with Closure Orders:· Starbucks (restaurant/café), 21 Great Georges Street, Waterford
· Ruby King (restaurant/café), Unit 5, West Business Park, Circular Road, Roscommon
· Akanchawa's Honey Pot (restaurant/café), 40 Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7
· Fernhill Golf & Country Club (Closed area: restaurant and associated kitchen facilities within
the club), Fernhill, Carrigaline, Cork
· Hannons Oakwood Hotel (Closed area: Kitchen area and all food service), Athlone
Road, Roscommon
· Get Fresh Catering (restaurant/canteen), Castlerea Community School, Castlerea, Roscommon
Four Closure Orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:· Ashford Oriental (restaurant/café), Main Street, Ashford, Wicklow
· Hairy Neds Pub and Shop (Closed activity: Shop deli and all food preparation areas),
Crosskeys, Cavan
· Big Bites Take Away, Castle Street, Roscommon
· Fitto Café (restaurant/café), 12/13 Catherine Street, Limerick
Two Improvement Orders were served on:· J2 Sushi & Bento (restaurant/canteen), 5 Market Square, Navan, Meath
· Asian and Arabic Food Market (grocery), 3 Parnell Street, Limerick
One Prohibition Order was served on:· Arcross Foods (cold store), Blackrock, Louth
Dr Byrne said: "There can be no excuse for putting consumers’ health at risk through negligent practices. Food businesses have a legal onus to make sure that the food they sell or serve is safe to eat."