The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed today (Thursday, September 10) that a small meat manufacturing plant was served with a closure order last month.

Bartkus Uncle Meat Limited in Corragarry, Canningstown, Cavan received one of three closure orders from the FSAI during the month of August.

Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers in FSAI also served four prohibition orders on food businesses during the month for breaches of food safety legislation. 

Three closure orders were served to:

Bartkus Uncle Meat Limited (meat manufacturing plant), Corragarry, Canningstown, Cavan;
Mini India (service sector), 28 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2; 
Darkey Kelly's (public house), 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8.

Four prohibition orders were served to Live5D Health Ltd - a health food shop, pharmacy, sports nutrition - Riverside Offices, Bridge Street, Boyle, Roscommon, with one order under appeal.

FSAI

According to the FSAI some of the reasons for the closure orders last month included evidence of live and dead cockroaches throughout a food premises and evidence of rodent activity, including rodent droppings.

The authority also outlined that a live rodent had been "observed running across the floor of a cold room" and that there had been evidence of rodent gnaw marks on food packaging.

Other reasons included inadequate standards of cleanliness and maintenance, including a build-up of dirt, grease-covered vents, cobwebs, insects and dead flies throughout a premises.

The FSAI also found that there was an absence of a food safety management system based on hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) principles and a failure to provide adequate hand-washing facilities.

In another instance it observered a failure to ensure food workers were adequately supervised, instructed and/or trained in food hygiene.

In one case, the food business had not been registered or approved by a competent authority.

Pest activity

Greg Dempsey, chief executive, FSAI today said it was concerning to see "such serious deficiencies in basic food safety controls in these closure orders".

“Food businesses must have effective measures in place to prevent pests gaining access to food premises and must maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all times," he added.

Dempsey added that the cases highlight the importance of having an effective food safety management system in place, supported by properly trained staff and appropriate hygiene facilities.

He said: “Food safety controls must work in practice, every day, to protect consumers.

Dempsey said that the FSAI “strongly” encourages food businesses to continuously improve their food safety standards via regular training and promoting a strong culture of food safety.