Seven food business were closed for breaches of food safety legislation in the past month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said today.
The figure represents nearly a quarter of the total number of businesses that were closed last year.
Those closed in February were:
- Bakery Bagietka, Unit B1, Botley Lane, Portarlington, Offaly
- Nonna Rosa takeaway, Main Street, Bagenalstown, Carlow
- Min Lin Chinese Restaurant, 1st Floor, The Old House Pub, Sixmilebridge, Clare
- MJI Meats, The Mosque Complex, Clare Road, Ballyhaunis, Mayo
- Fitzpatricks Multi Save supermarket, Tulla Road, Ennis, Clare
- Afrika in Ireland supermarket, Queen Street, Galway
- Peng Lai Chinese Grocery, 101 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
FSAI chief executive Dr John O'Brien expressed "grave disappointment" with the number of businesses closed.
"The seven closure orders represent almost one quarter of last year's total figure of 27. Enforcement officers only resort to using these powers when standards have fallen so low that the public's health has been put in grave and immediate danger," he said.
"The message is clear to food businesses; the FSAI operates a zero tolerance policy for failure to reach the necessary standards of food safety and hygiene."