FSAI served enforcement order on meat plant in November

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served an enforcement order on one small meat manufacturing plant during the month of November, the authority confirmed today (Tuesday, December 8).

This was one of three enforcement orders served on food businesses last month. Two closure orders were served on: Shiro Sushi, a restaurant in Dublin; and Asian Food Markets, a retailer in Park Road, Waterford.

In addition, one prohibition order was served on Valhalla Meats, a small meat manufacturing plant in Townparks Industrial Estate, Co. Longford.

Meanwhile, a prosecution was also served under the EC Food and Feed Hygiene Regulations, 2009, in relation to the animal sheds occupied by Barry McConnon – a slaughterhouse in Corcreaghy, Carrickmacross, Co. Louth.

In relation to Valhalla Meats, the FSAI served the prohibition order on Monday, November 23, and subsequently lifted it on Friday, November 27.

According to the order itself, the business was directed to ensure that specified food was not used for human consumption and was detained pending supervised destruction and disposal.

Items of food included in this order comprised of two forequarters of venison carcass and various trays of: striploin steak; rib eye and runner steak; diced beef; rump steak; beef short ribs; T-bone steak; and roast beef, showing use-by dates ranging from 07/11/20 to 24/11/20.

The order deems that the listed food items were due to one of the following: gross spoilage and absence of visible health mark; gross spoilage; deemed unsafe as the use-by dates had expired; or due to visible spoilage on use-by date.

Commenting today, Dr. Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, expressed particular concern that this month’s enforcement report included a prosecution taken on a slaughterhouse and cutting plant that was not approved and, therefore, not supervised.

“It is a legal requirement that all food businesses handling products of animal origin must be approved. This requirement ensures that these food businesses can be adequately supervised and inspected regularly.

This protects public health and facilitates ongoing compliance with food legislation. Illegally operating slaughterhouses and cutting plants put consumers at high risk of foodborne illness.

“The operation of any illegal food business will not be tolerated, and the full power of the law will be brought to bear to stop these food businesses from putting consumers’ health at serious risk.”