A dead rat, rodent droppings and the likely contamination of kitchen utensils "with pathogenic bacteria" were among the reasons seven food businesses were served with closures orders last month, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
An Eddie Rocket's outlet, at the Point Village in Dublin, was issued with a closure order under EU regulations due to rodent activity and "significant deficits" relating to food safety.
A closure order is served when it is deemed there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in a premises.
The restaurant's inspection report said open food containers that "rodents have come into contact with is likely to be contaminated with harmful pathogens such as Salmonella spp".
Such germs, it said, are carried by the animals on "their paws and excreted in their urine and faeces" - with the inspector also finding "multiple fresh rodent droppings in multiple areas throughout the kitchen".
The premises and cooking equipment were "not clean" to the extent that food "prepared in these conditions is likely to be contaminated with dirt containing pathogenic bacteria".
The restaurant's staff were also "not familiar with the contents of any food safety management procedure".
PY Fast Food Food Stall, on Moore Street in Dublin city centre, was also served a closure order under due to non-compliance regarding the storage of meat and a "lack of adequate" hygiene practices.
The report found raw meat and salads were stored in conditions that "promotes the growth of bacterial pathogens", while staff "were not trained or supervised in food hygiene matters".
'Dead rat' in Roscommon premises
Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act impacting five establishments - China Palace in Co Roscommon, Stela Foods in Co Louth, Yomari Foods Ltd in Co Roscommon, Stela Food Stores in Dublin 15 and Republic of Grill in Co Limerick.
The food hygiene inspection report for China Palace noted the discovery of "a dead rat" in a trap and "numerous rat droppings" by the inspector.
The order for Stela Foods was served for the presence of "rodent droppings, dead flies, insects and dust" on food, packaging and equipment.
Stela Food Stores was given a closure order for issues relating to rodent activity, including "visible gnaw marks" on a bag of rice among other reasons.
An FSAI inspector noted drains in Yomari Foods' outside yard near the kitchen door were "completely blocked with foul wastewater and food debris was overflowing".
Republic of Grill was closed as it had "no water supply" and "no protection against contamination".
The Chief Executive of the FSAI said the establishments closed last month showed "a clear absence of the most basic food safety procedures".
"There can be no excuse for putting consumers' health at risk through negligent practices and failing to comply with the legal requirements," Greg Dempsey said.
"Food businesses have a legal responsibility to ensure the food they sell or serve is safe to eat," he added.
