A Dublin ice-cream shop was ordered to close its storage area last month after rodent droppings were found there.
Teddy’s Ice Cream at East Pier Battery in Dún Laoghaire was ordered to close the food and packaging storage unit at the side of its premises.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) found rodent droppings in the storage area, where food packaging and foodstuffs were kept, on July 14th.
Inspectors also noted that the storage area was very poorly pest proofed, with "numerous holes, gaps and defects noted in the structure allowing potential access to rodents."
It also found disturbed rodent poison scattered on the floor.
The FSAI added: "A grave and immediate danger to foodstuffs exists in the storage unit because rodents can transmit harmful pathogens to foodstuffs and food packaging through their droppings and urine."
Overall the authority issued five closure orders and two prohibition orders on food businesses last month.
Five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- AIM Cash & Carry (Closed activity: all food sales), Unit 20, Robinhood Industrial Estate, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
- Londis (Closed Areas: The deli counter, the butcher counter and preparation rooms and store rooms off the deli/butcher counters), 38 Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7
- Teddy’s Ice Cream (Closed area: food and packaging storage unit at the side of the premises only), East Pier Battery, Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
- WW Poultry (Cold Store), Unit 24 Orion Business Centre, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15
- Indian Prince (Restaurant/Café), Unit 16, Kilminchy Court, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Two prohibition orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
- WW Poultry (Cold Store), Unit 24 Orion Business Centre, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15
- AD Cash and Carry Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), Unit 4, St James Industrial Park, Kylemore Way, Inchicore, Dublin 8
Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said as well as the breaches of food legislation, they also identified some food businesses selling food with no regulatory oversight for food safety and consumer protection.
"A number of serious incidents have been identified where authorised officers found people operating out of food premises or vehicles where no adherence to basic food safety and hygiene practices where in place.
"A food business was found transporting unrefrigerated meat and meat products in the boot and back seat of a car.
"On another occasion, a wholesale business was operating in filthy conditions with unfit and out of date food, whilst another establishment had a significant level of unlabelled and untraceable food on its premises.
"In all these cases, authorised officers used enforcement powers to mitigate the risk to consumers from these business operations.
"However, we would be concerned that this could be reflective of a growing level of unscrupulous operators seeking to make a profit, at the expense of public health.
"We would urge consumers to question anyone offering them food for sale that seems unusual or that has no food labels on the packaging.
"We would also ask food businesses not to purchase food from unregistered/unapproved suppliers.
"Larger food businesses should ensure, when selling commercial quantities of food, that the buyer is a registered or approved food business operator."
"Anyone who is selling food must register with or have their business approved by a competent authority and abide by food law.
"This is to protect consumers’ health in relation to food as each registered/approved business then comes within the food safety inspection process."
