With a "sharp rise" in the number of food businesses shut down for food-safety breeches, and food poisoning cases usually tripling over the summer, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued a strong warning.Food poisoning: preventative measures
It says there will be no excuses for businesses linked to food poisoning this year, adding that there are close on 200 food poisoning cases every month in the summer.
Citing figures from the National Disease Surveillance Centre on food poisoning, the FSAI expressed its concern at the "marked increase" in food poisoning incidents in the summer.
Between January and April there are on average 17 cases of salmonellosis per month, and 92 cases of other food poisoning.
However, these figures jump to 50 for salmonellosis, and to 145 for other forms of poisoning in the summer.
The FSAI says restaurants and catering businesses must rigidly adhere to food-safety regulations or face the penalty.
There has also been a "sharp rise" in the number of businesses shut down, according to the FSAI.
Closure orders are only issued when there is a serious breach of food-safety legislation which puts the public's health at risk.
Some 29 food businesses have been closed so far this year, compared to 25 for the same period last year.
Food poisoning can be a serious illness, but it is avoidable if adequate food hygiene and temperature controls are in place, according to Mr Alan Reilly, deputy chief executive officer of the FSAI.
The FSAI says the food industry has a legal responsibility to protect consumer health by having a robust food-safety system, and ensuring every food worker is trained in the best food- safety techniques.
The principal causes of food poisoning are inadequate training of staff, poor hygiene, improper storage of food, inadequate cooking and reheating of food and cross-contamination.
Salads and foods which are not cooked are particularly susceptible in summer to bacterial growth.
Closure orders
Coolmine Confectionery Coolmine Industrial Estate, Dublin 15
Decency Inn First Floor, 162 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
The Beachcomber Kerrs Bay, Rathmullan, Donegal
K&L Meats Ltd Tanyard Industrial Estate, Tullamore, Offaly
Chill One Tanyard Industrial Estate, Tullamore, Offaly.
Improvement orders
The Plaza Chinese restaurant The Plaza, Swords, Co Dublin
Rathfarnham convalescent home Scholarstown Rd, Dublin 16.
Never allow raw food to come in contact with cooked or ready-to-eat food.
Wash your hands between handling raw and cooked foods.
Cook food thoroughly - the core temperature should reach 70 degrees for two minutes or more to kill any bacteria present.
Use hot food within two hours.Lukewarm food is dangerous; it is the perfect environment for fast-growing bacteria.
Only freeze food once, and always defrost food thoroughly.
Food should be stored in a fridge below 5 degrees.