Live cockroaches across "all life stages" and rodent droppings were among the reasons enforcement orders were served on food businesses last month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has said.
Ella's Heaven Café and Bakery, located on Dublin city’s Talbot Street, was issued with a closure order under the FSAI Act due to an "active cockroach infestation" and a lack of cleanliness.
Closure orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities and are served where there is or is likely to be a danger to public health.
The food hygiene inspection report for the café found cockroaches aged from "nymph to adult" were in the kitchen near food, dead cockroaches were also noted "next to crockery" and a cockroach egg was discovered next to utensils.
The flooring throughout the premise was described in the document as "greasy dirty with congealed dirt".
Other establishments issued with closure orders under this act and directed to close include Balam Limited in Dublin, The Turk Grill in Co Sligo and Lismore Golf Club in Co Waterford.
Miner’s Rest Public House in Co Tipperary was ordered to close part of its premise by the FSAI under the act.
Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street in Dublin was issued with a closure order by the authority, directing part of its operation to cease activities.
The premise is among three establishments, including Xpress Pantry in Co Meath and Indian Tiffins on Dublin’s Parnell Street, issued with such orders under EU Regulations.
The order for Bewley’s Café related to issues with the "dual use" of its lone vacuum packing machine for both raw and ready to eat foods.
This, the FSAI, said presented "a significant risk of ready-to-eat foods becoming contaminated with bacteria".
'Food safety is not optional' - FSAI
Xpress Pantry was also directed to stop some activities relating to the "manufacture and wholesale of foods of animal origin" while Indian Tiffins was ordered to stop all business.
Prohibition orders were served by FSAI inspectors impacting three establishments, such orders are issued to stop the sale of an item, if activities involving it do or are likely to involve a serious risk to public health from a particular item.
The Miner’s Rest Public House in Co Tipperary was also issued with a prohibition order.
Additionally, La Citadel and M Tee Ventures in Dublin were impacted by this order.
The Chief Executive of the FSAI said food businesses "have a fundamental legal responsibility to ensure the food they produce is safe to eat".
Dr Pamela Byrne said the orders issued last month "highlight unacceptable breaches of food safety legislation".
She added such violations "pose a serious risk to consumer health and also undermine confidence in the food industry", adding that "food safety is not optional".
