A total of 57 enforcement orders were served against businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2007.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) ordered 37 food businesses to close, served five improvement orders and 15 prohibition orders. The number of orders was highest number on three years and a 54 per cent increase on 2006.
FSAI chief executive Dr John O'Brien said the increase was disappointing.
"Food businesses must comply with not only their legal obligations but their business obligations to supply safe food to their customers. Those food businesses who continue to flout the law and fail or refuse to implement the food safety prerequisites will face the consequences," he said
The rise in the number of enforcement orders reverses a downward trend seen in the past few years. In 2006, there were 27 closure orders served, seven improvement orders and three prohibition orders.
Details are published on the FSAI website.
