Dead mice, cockroach infestations and serious hygiene failures were among the reasons 12 food businesses were ordered to close in September.

According to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served the closure orders on food businesses last month for a range of breaches of food safety.

The officers found evidence of pest activity that included a dead rodent found directly in front of a fridge containing beverages and rodent droppings noted on shelving and preparation surfaces where food utensils and beverages were stored.

They also recorded "inadequate procedures" for the cooking, cooling and reheating of high-risk foods, including chicken; and failure to ensure food workers were adequately supervised, instructed and, or trained in food hygiene.

According to Greg Dempsey, chief executive of the FSAI, the closure orders served in September highlight the importance of maintaining robust food safety and hygiene practices across all food businesses.

"Issues such as inadequate pest control, poor cleaning standards and unsafe food storage continue to be the main reasons for enforcement action.

"These are entirely preventable non-compliances when proper food safety management systems are in place.

"While the majority of food businesses take their legal responsibilities very seriously, we continue to see a small number of businesses subject to enforcement action, including closure, due to their non-compliances with basic food safety standards," Dempsey said.

Closure orders were served on these businesses last month:

Furlong’s Bar & Lounge & Nellie’s Takeaway, Curracloe, Wexford; 
Fia’s Café, 57 Thomas Street, Prior’s Land, Limerick; 
The Lunch Bag - Timahoe GAA (all areas pertaining to the food business activities) (Service Sector), Timahoe GAA, Pairc Mhochua Cremorgan, Timahoe, Portlaoise;
Pizza Petito (Takeaway), 9 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6;
Centra (Retailer), Ardlo Manor, Mullagh, Cavan;
Summergrove House (All areas pertaining to the food business activities) (B&B used primarily as a private dwelling), Summergrove, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, Laois;
Everest Kitchen Nepalese (Restaurant/Café), The Friary Bow, Abbey Street, Ennis, Clare;
The Thatch (Restaurant/Café), Killenard, Portalington, Laois; 
Marka Cadey 2 (Restaurant/Café), 5 Talbot Street, Dublin 1;
The Hopsack (Service Sector), Swan Leisure Centre, Lower Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6.

Two closure orders were also served by the FSAI under European Union legislation on:

Eskimo Pizza and Indian (Takeaway), Main Street, Ballyheigue, Kerry;
J2 Sushi & Bento (Restaurant/Café), 75 Main Street, Swords, County Dublin.