The Food Safety Authority of Ireland yesterday announced details of enforcement orders served on two shops, five food stalls and a fish farm as a result of breaches of food safety legislation in March.
Two closure orders were served by environmental health officers of the North-Eastern Area Health Board on Kelly's Grocery, Chapelizod, Dublin, and by EHOs in the Western Health Board area on the Spar supermarket, Williamstown, Galway.
Sea fishery officers from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources served a closure order on Cage No 1A Dinish in the Muirachmhainni Teo fish farm at Tairgeoiri Bradáin, Galway.
As reported in March, EHOs from the North-Western Health Board served five closure orders on food stalls in Donegal town operated by Freddy Andre Cochepin, Bruno Montane, Brigitte Fagnan, Michael Meunier and Philippe Henri Legrand.
Closure orders are served when it is deemed, on inspection, that there is, or is likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to public health. These are lifted if remedial or other work demanded by the officers is carried out.
Mr Peter Whelan, director of service contracts at the FSAI, pointed out that food safety legislation sets minimum standards which the industry must comply with. He emphasised that closure orders were not issued for minor infringements.
"Enforcement officers only resort to using these powers when standards have fallen very low. We are not out to persecute food operators, but they would be wise to take heed that enforcement powers will be used, and premises named, if they do not operate to the required legal standard," he said.