Ireland is on track to potentially seeing a record number of enforcement orders on food businesses by the end of 2024.
Last year, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued a total of 92 enforcement orders on food outlets, and already this year has surpassed that number, with 106 served up to the September.
Last month, the FSAI issued 16 enforcement orders, the majority of which were in Dublin.
Some of the reasons for the orders in September included a live rodent running across the floor of a food storage room, a dead rodent caught in a trap in a kitchen, bird droppings, active cockroach infestations, and a lack of adequate cleaning and hygiene.
FSAI Director of Enforcement Policy Bernard Hegarty said it is concerning that even the "most basic" of practices are not being upheld by some business owners.
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Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the 16 enforcement orders last was was "quite a lot, even allowing for our 52,000 food businesses".
He said some of the reasons for the servings are "basic matters of food safety and hygiene; matters like pest infestations. 70% of the orders we've seen this year have cited pest control problems, so it's really worrying that the very basics are not being responded to appropriately, like, invasions by mice, rats, cockroaches and other unwanted visitors".
Mr Hegarty said that following the receipt of an enforcement order is it then up to each individual business to "regain the trust of their customers".
Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins said he disagreed that the number of enforcement orders to food businesses ratio is high.
"We have a very good track record in Ireland when you benchmark us against the rest of Europe," he said.
"There will be a small percentage out there that may not do the right thing, and we need to make sure that they get in line. There are some issues that have been raised around jurisdiction of outdoor areas, and who's in charge of rodent and pest control [in those areas]."
Mr Cummins said there is not just one issue that can be pinpointed as the reason behind rising figures, but rather a number of factors can feed into it.
"It could be just that they drop the ball, somebody wasn't doing their job - they asked someone to look after it and don't do the job properly, people move on, [businesses are] short staffed," he said.
But what about when it is too late and those issues are already found? It is no longer a matter of prevention then and the business must close, knowing the information on their closure order will be made public.
Long Wu, owner and chef at Osteria 99, an Italian restaurant in Monkstown, in Dublin, was one of the 16 owners issued with an enforcement order last month.
The report cited rodent droppings in a number of places, inadequate procedures around pest control at the restaurant, and a lack of cleaning. As a result, the premises was closed for two days in September, before it was given the green light to reopen by the Health Inspector.
Mr Wu said it has been a difficult few weeks for his family and business.
"I call my pest control company, which is the company that served us the last seven years, I call on them immediately, and then they came in next hour. I was surprised [when the closure order was issued] and I don't feel good, and I'm worried this will damage my business name," he said.
Mr Wu said there has also been a financial and reputational impact, with many people cancelling their bookings following the publication of the September report last Thursday.
However, he is determined that it will not close his business entirely and intends to step up his vigilance around cleaning at the restaurant.
"We always have the pest control company, you know, coming to serve us and also myself, I check everywhere around all the time and we will keep higher standard ... much better, you know than before."
With rodents a growing problem for food businesses across Ireland, those working in pest control are being called on more regularly to support these businesses.
Area Technical Manager for Rentokil Dr Colm Moore said they work alongside businesses and health inspectors to identify the root of the problem for businesses with an infestation.
"There's more enforcement going on, so there's more inspections, so that is going to equate to more problems [being found]. The other one is Dublin itself ... we've actually found we've had an increase in rats, particularly, for September compared to this time last year. And now in Cork, it's an even greater problem ... So, there's something going on with rats," he said.
The obvious reason for rats and mice being attracted to food businesses is the availability of food, water, waste, and warmth.
However, Dr Moore also said that one of the things people do not really think about is the amount of waste packaging thrown or packed in a corner. He warned that this is "great nesting material for animals" and to always get rid of it.
