Food safety authorities moved to force 60 businesses to clean up their act over the last 12 months, it was confirmed today.
This represented a small drop in the numbers breaching food safety legislation but businesses were told the minor fall-off was not enough.
Dr John O'Brien, chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), said some businesses were still breaching food safety legislation.
He warned any lapse in hygiene standards would not be tolerated.
"The FSAI will continue to take a no-compromise approach to food safety in 2005," he said.
The food safety watchdog served 42 closure orders, issued improvement orders in another 10 cases and gave eight prohibition orders over the past 12 months.
Around 17 of the closure orders were issued against restaurants, canteens and takeaways - with the majority of these involving Chinese food takeaways or establishments.
"Consumers have to be confident that the food they are eating is prepared in a hygienic manner. Food safety legislation sets minimum standards which industry must comply with," Dr O'Brien said.
Closure orders are served in cases where there is believed to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises. The FSAI issues an improvement order where a business fails to act over its warnings or advice.
PA