Irish Customers Warned About Serving Item In Restaurants That Poses Hygiene Risk

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has told its Irish customers that restaurants can still use wooden plates to serve food despite its hygiene risk.

The Irish Sun reports that there is evidence suggesting that the wooden plates carry a hygiene risk and that they are "incapable of being cleaned".

This news comes after a UK restaurant was hit with a €56k fine for serving food on wooden boards.

FSAI director of enforcement policy Dr Bernard Hegarty said: "Wooden surfaces are used to serve food and in chopping boards.

"No matter what material is used, there is criteria on how it should be used safely and hygienically. It must have smooth surfaces, must be corrosion resistant and washable, and restaurants must be able to sanitise them using bleach, for example, after they have cleaned them.

"They need to be in good condition. Cracks that appear after extensive use or scored boards can be very difficult to clean."

He stated that no incidents in Ireland have ever been reported regarding an enforcement over wooden boards but when asked whether the boards should be banned, he said:

"Our advice is wooden chopping boards can be used for food preparation once they are kept in a clean and hygienic condition," but did not comment on the use of wooden boards for food presentation.

You can find more information about the FSAI's stance on the wooden boards here.

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Irish Customers Warned About Serving Item In Restaurants That Poses Hygiene Risk