A Co Offaly firm has been ordered to shut down over breaches of food safety legislation.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said it had served a closure order and a prohibition order against Midland Fine Foods Ltd, of Emmet Street, Birr, for breaches of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998.
Closure orders are served where inspectors believe there is, or is likely to be, a "grave and immediate danger to public health".
A prohibition order is issued if the company's handling, processing, disposal, manufacturing, storage, distribution or selling of food involves a "serious risk" to public health from a particular product.
FSAI chief executive Dr John O'Brien said it is essential for all food business operators to adhere to their legal obligation to implement and enforce a vigilant system of food hygiene practices.
"Given the recent high profile Sudan Red 1 food alert, it is understandable that consumers are becoming not only anxious about food but tired of a continuous bombardment with information about food businesses breaching the law," Dr O'Brien said.
"Food business operators need to realise that not only are they putting consumers' health at risk, but they are also placing their livelihoods at stake given the adverse publicity their business will receive if they are non-compliant."
Dr O'Brien added: "Basic food safety skills are not difficult to master and employers are legally obliged to ensure that all staff involved in food production or preparation, must be adequately trained and/or supervised in food hygiene practices.
"Enforcement Orders are only served when enforcement officers have evidence of serious infringements and where standards have fallen so low that consumer health has been put at risk," he said.
Closure and improvement orders are listed on the FSAI's website for three months from the date when a premises has corrected its food safety issue. Prohibition orders are listed for a month.