Five food businesses, including two restaurants in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, a Chinese restaurant in Carrigaline, Co Cork and a Chinese restaurant in Co Roscommon, received closure orders last month.

The five closure orders were issued by environmental health officers with the HSE in Dublin, Co Cork and Co Roscommon during the month of February.

Four closure orders were issued under the European Communities (Official Control of Foodstuffs) regulations against Shanghai House restaurant, 13 Upper Cork Street, Mitchelstown, Co Cork; Yu Garden Chinese restaurant, Bridge Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon; Huahong restaurant, Carrig House, Old Waterpark, Carrigaline, Co Cork, and VF Foods (cold store), Room 1 of the building, Jamestown Business Park, Jamestown Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.

One closure order was issued under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act (FSAI) of 1998 against Curry Hut & Indian Kebab House restaurant, 6 Lower Cork Street, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

Closure orders are issued to businesses where there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises. The food safety issue or issues must be remedied before the business can open.

One Prohibition Order was also issued by local authority veterinary inspectors in Louth County Council against the Arcross Foods pork processing plant in Blackrock, Co Louth.

Dr Bernard Hegarty, Director of Service Contracts FSAI, said there was no excuse for food businesses putting customers’ health at risk through a company’s negligent practices.

“The legal onus is on food businesses to ensure at all times that the food they serve is safe to eat,” said Mr Hegarty. “All food businesses must have a food safety management system in place that is consulted and updated on a regular basis, in order to avoid non-compliance issues and breaches of food safety legislation.”

He urged food business owners unsure of their legal obligations to contact the FSAI through the company’s advice line on 1890 336677 or the FSAI website.

Last month the FSAI reported an increase of 2,738 complaints in 2014 by consumers about food quality and food premises. The authority said the increase in complaints reflected the growing awareness among consumers of the need to report poor hygiene practices.

Objects discovered in food items in 2014 included dead maggots, insects, wire, a razor blade and cigarettes.