Ireland

‘Decomposed rat carcass’ and live cockroaches found by inspectors at restaurants and takeaways

Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued 133 enforcement orders last year, a 45% increase

The FSAI said that the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, but it was unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable.
The FSAI said that the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, but it was unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable.
Claire Murphy
Thu Jan 09 2025 - 12:35

Food safety inspectors discovered a decomposed rat carcass, rodent droppings and cockroach infestations at a number of food businesses in the month of December.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said that in total there were 133 enforcement orders on food businesses in 2024, a 45 per cent increase on last year.

A pizza and Chinese takeaway was ordered to close in December after rat droppings and the carcass of a rat was discovered on the floor under a crate storing rice. Lam’s Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza in Callan, Co Kilkenny was served the closure order on December 5th and the takeaway has since reopened.

Evidence of cockroach activity was identified at Murphy’s Fish and Chips on John Street, Waterford and it was ordered to close on December 9th, which has also reopened. Cockroaches were observed in equipment and on walls, floors and ceilings, food inspectors said.

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Rodent droppings were found in food packaging and evidence of gnawed packaging at Cork Rooftop Farm at Cornmarket Street. It was ordered to close on December 20th and it has since reopened.

Rat droppings were evident in ‘multiple locations’ at K&Q Snacks Limited, as well as rat traps which had been set off. Meanwhile, there were mouse droppings and evidence of dirt, grease and food debris in Panda Chinese Take Away in Clogheen, Tipperary.

[ Part of Dublin pub served with closure order after rodent droppings and ‘gnawed wallpaper’ found ]

A total of six closure orders were issued by environmental health officers under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Cork Rooftop Farm Limited; Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath; K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11; Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford; Lam’s Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny and Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2.

Three closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary; Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin and Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5.

Some of the reasons for the closure orders in December include inadequate pest control measures in place, dirty premises, complete lack of cleaning or disorganisation in the storage of food.

Between January 1st and December 31st, 115 closure orders, 16 prohibition orders and two improvement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses throughout the country.

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that the increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024 was unacceptable.

“It is concerning to see a significant increase in Enforcement Orders in 2024. Consumers have a right to safe food and negligent food practices are inexcusable,” she said,

“The types of reasons cited for enforcement orders are simple errors that should not be happening in any food business.”

Dr Byrne said that the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, but it was unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable.

“These fundamental breaches not only pose a potential risk to consumer health, but also undermine consumer trust. Food businesses must take responsibility and ensure compliance with food safety legislation at all times,” added Dr Byrne.

Details of the food businesses served with enforcement orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie.