O’Neills pub in Dublin city centre was one of four food businesses ordered to close by food safety inspectors last month.

The pub was handed the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Closure Order after inspectors discovered a live rodent and droppings in the building.

They noted that adequate procedures were not in place to control pests and there was a “serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, likely to render the food unfit for human consumption”.

The inspectors said there were pest-proofing issues throughout the building; however, the issues were particularly evident in the basement, where construction work was ongoing.

The closure order was issued on October 27th.

Closure Orders

The other businesses served with closure Orders were Nico’s takeaway in Ballybough in Dublin and Panda Chinese Takeaway in Clogheen Tipperary.

Meanwhile, the food service area in the Golden Beach Supermarket on Parnell Street in Dublin was also ordered to close.

“Rodent dropping consistent with rats” were found in Nico’s and the inspector noted that the droppings were coloured blue/green, consistent with poison ingestion.

At Panda Chinese Takeaway, inspectors found food equipment and utensils stored on the ground both inside and outside – and uncovered ready to eat food stored in an outside back yard area.

They said the kitchen was not clean and there was an accumulation of dead flies on a food storage shelf.

Meanwhile, inspectors at Golden Beach Supermarket found evidence of cockroach activity in the food prep area and noted that the equipment used to clean the premises was “filthy”.

Foods were also being stored and displayed for “prolonged and unknown periods of time at temperatures likely to result in a health risk.

"Zero tolerance"

FSAI Chief Executive Dr Pamela Byrne said it was disappointing that inspectors continue to find “unacceptable levels of non-compliance with food safety legislation in some food businesses”.

“There can be zero tolerance for negligent practices that put consumers’ health at risk and Environmental Health Officers will use the full powers available to them under food law if a food business is found to be in breach,” she said.

“Consumers have a right to safe food and food businesses have a legal requirement to ensure that the food they are processing, serving or selling is safe to eat.”

Details of the Enforcement Orders are published at fsai.ie.