The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) says it issued 17 enforcement orders on food businesses in October.
Of these there were 14 closure orders, one improvement order and two prohibition orders.
These were for breaches of food safety legislation.
The orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and veterinary inspectors in local authorities.
This is the highest number of enforcement orders in a month to date this year.
Four closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- NKD Pizza (Take Away), 9 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6
- The Whole Hoggs (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Rathmaiden, Slane, Meath
- Euro Corner (Retailer), (Closed area: all of the business except [from 10 October 2019] - the grocery in the front of the ground floor, for sales of pre-packed ambient foods only) 13 Broad Street, Waterford City, Waterford
- Instanbel Buffet House, 90-91 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1
At the NKD Pizza branch, inspectors found evidence of mice infestation in the bin storage and sluice room.
There was also evidence of mouse droppings.
There were 10 closure orders served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
- Glyde Fries Takeaway, Main Street, Tallanstown, Louth
- Wisla (Retailer), Unit 2, Park Road Business Park, Park Road, Waterford
- Celtic Pure (Packaged Water), Corcreagh, Shercock PO, Monaghan
- Cloncat Service Station (Retailer), (Closed Activity: Using water sourced from the private well supplying the business for 1. drinking; 2. making hot/cold drinks or ice; 3. food preparation i.e. washing, 4. as an ingredient in any food prepared on premises) Fordstown, Navan, Meath
- Hot & Tasty Foodstall (Take Away), Main Road, Ballyforan, Roscommon
- Indian Moon (Take Away), 3A West Douglas, Douglas, Cork
- C&E (Retailer), (Closed activity: the sale and supply of fresh fish and crustaceans), 19 Catherine Street, Limerick
- U Pick Store (Retailer) Unit 6, Westside Business Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
- Gabriela's Tea Room (Restaurant), (Closed activity: the manufacture of cakes and confectionery on the premises) Cavan Street, Oldcastle, Meath
- Camden Rotisserie (under appeal) (Restaurant - Café), 37 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
In relation to Celtic Pure, the FSAI said batches of bottled water which tested positive for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli or Enterococci were placed on the market.
It said this was contrary to the requirements of European Union (Natural Mineral Waters, Spring Waters and Other Waters in Bottles or Containers) Regulations 2016.
It also said that an inventory of the stock present in the warehouse was requested on several occasions, and was not provided.
While laboratory analysis reports were not provided on demand when requested.
One improvement order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Glyde Fries Takeaway (Take Away), Main Street, Tallanstown, Louth
One prohibition order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
- Celtic Pure Unlimited (Packaged Water), Corcreagh, Shercock PO, Monaghan
And one prohibition order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- Neree Mbala (Retailer),10a Base Enterprise Centre, Damastown Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive, FSAI said: "As in recent months, a high number of the enforcement orders were associated with issues related to pests and failures in basic staff training.
"These issues are all preventable and food businesses must ensure that they always adhere to a high standard of food safety and hygiene.
"It is imperative that a proper pest control system is in place and that this is checked very regularly in order to avoid infestations of rodents and insects.
"With the busy Christmas period nearly upon us, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law and to protect the health of their customers.
"Special attention should be given to food safety training for both full and part-time staff to cope with any extra demand".
