The closure orders, issued by the Health Service Executive, came near the beginning and end of July and were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. The orders were served due to members of staff decanting, blending and packaging foods in a room at the premises.

The wholesaler, with an address at 9-10 A Academy Street, Navan, Co Meath, trades in a variety of frozen chicken products, including frozen chicken drumsticks, frozen chicken thighs, frozen chicken wings and frozen chicken feet. It also trades in black eyed beans and roasted salted peanuts.

A total of 17 enforcement orders were served on food businesses in July, including a prohibition order served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Gary Creaven Fish Sales, Menlo, Co Galway, for insufficient labelling and traceability details on all smoked salmon products.

Commenting on the high level of enforcement orders served in July, Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, expressed her disappointment at the lack of vigilance by some owners in ensuring their food businesses are fit for purpose and fully compliant with food safety legislation.

Compliant

“While the majority of food businesses are compliant with food safety legislation, unfortunately we continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk through a failure to comply with food safety and hygiene requirements,” she said. “These breaches are completely avoidable when food businesses have proper food safety management systems in place. Food safety must be paramount. This requires greater focus to safeguard against standards slipping and to ensure that food served is safe to eat.”

Dr Byrne urged food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by the inspectorate and the FSAI to ensure that they have the correct food safety management systems in place. If any food business owner is unsure of what is required of them by law, they can contact the FSAI advice line at info@fsai.ie or visit its website www.fsai.ie.