Six food businesses were closed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland during July, which is the highest number of closures in a month since figures were recorded in 2001.
Mr Peter Whelan, director of service contracts with the FSAI, said yesterday: "It is unacceptable to have six food businesses closed because standards have fallen so low in premises that consumers' health have been put at risk.
"This is the highest number of closures in a month since the decision to publish monthly figures in July 2001. This degree of non-compliance will not be tolerated," Mr Whelan said.
Three closure orders were served by environmental health officers (EHOs) in the Mid-Western Health Board on Mr Oliver O'Sullivan of Supermann's Pizzeria; Mr David Mann of Davey Mann's Loft Bar and Restaurant; Mr Michael Nash of Fiddler's Green pub, all in Main Street, Rathkeale, Co Limerick.
In the Western Health Board area an order was served on Mr Bernard Keane of Keane's Spar Supermarket, Ballygar, Co Galway.
Louth County Council veterinary inspectors served an order on Mr Eugene McEaneaney and Mr Dominick Keenan of S & E Meats, Dundalk, Co Louth.
The sixth was served on Mr Kwok Wai Wong of North Ocean takeaway, Clontarf, Dublin.
Finally, an improvement order was served on Larkan Catering Ltd of John D's Pub in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Mr Whelan said closure orders were not used for minor infringements. They were served where it was deemed that there was or likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health in or on the premises.
"We are urging all food businesses to adhere to best food safety and hygiene practices, to ensure that this unacceptably high monthly total is not reached again," he said.
Irish food businesses needed to realise that the future of their business lay in their own hands, he stated.
"It is disappointing that we have to use legal powers to force food businesses to comply with the law to ensure consumer health is protected.
"In addition to making their customers ill, food businesses disregarding the law attract adverse publicity to their business and damage consumer confidence in the safety of food," Mr Whelan concluded.
Closure and improvement orders will remain on the FSAI website for three months.
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