Meath takeaway issued closure order due to evidence that people were sleeping in the food prep area

Mattresses, bedding materials, and personal hygiene items were all found.

A total of 10 businesses were served closure orders according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in November.

This included food businesses in Kerry, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Louth, Sligo, Tipperary, Meath, and two in Limerick.

The reasons for the closures ranged from inadequate pest proofing, heavy rodent infestation, cockroaches, and in the case of a Meath pizza takeaway, “evidence that people were living and sleeping in the food preparation area“.

Pizza Max on Cavan Street in Meath was issued a closure order on November 30th, under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, which was then lifted on December 2nd.

The report found that “official controls [had] not been carried out to verify compliance with food law” which can lead to unsafe food being served. There was also no evidence that permanent procedures based on the HACCP Principles were in place, which may also lead to unsafe food that is likely to pose a significant risk to health.

The report also revealed that the business had poor food safety knowledge.

Finally, the report outlined that the takeaway showed evidence of people living on the premise.

“We observed mattresses, bedding materials, personal hygiene items e.g. toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, bottles of shampoo and shower gel, hair products and hair brushes in this area. We also noted medications, clothing and personal food items in this area.”

The full report on Pizza Max is available to read here.

You can read the full list of closure orders for November below.

Six Closure Orders served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• Golden Dragon Chinese Takeaway, Tralee Road, Killarney, Kerry
• Al Huda Grocery, 72A Summerhill Dublin, Dublin 1
• Macari’s (take away), Main Street, Johnstown, Kilkenny
• Harrington’s Bakery (Closed area: The bread production unit – The Bread Production unit is a separate building divided by a yard from the Retail/ Confectionary unit), 5/6 Tallow Street, Youghal, Cork
• Unapproved Premises at Rock Road, Rock Road, Blackrock, Louth
• Baker Boys (restaurant/café), 3 Finisklin Road, Finisklin, Sligo

Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

• Achari (restaurant/café), 56-57 The Orchard, Castletroy, Limerick
• Oscars (take away), 17 John Street, Limerick
• Pizza Max (take away), Cavan Street, Oldcastle, Meath

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

• The Bakehouse (bakery), 7 Main Street, Cashel, Tipperary

Header image via Getty

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