ALERT: Takeaways in three counties CLOSED over live cockroaches and dripping blood

Takeaways, cafés and food businesses in four counties were closed down over public health issues last month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has confirmed.

The FSAI has reported that four Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during the month of December 2023 for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive and some of the reasons included an ongoing cockroach infestation evident in food preparation areas such as under fryer and in the fridge, blood from raw ducks dripping onto ingredient bags and containers, with water and blood-soaked cloths left on food preparation surfaces and flies observed on both raw ducks and equipment.

Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Sausage Paradise (butcher shop), Pound Street, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon and Padoca (restaurant/café), 64 Capel Street, Dublin 1.

Two Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Duck (restaurant/café), 15 Fade Street, Dublin 2 and Golden Phoenix Chinese Restaurant, Main Street, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath.

One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on The Arch Bar, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin.

In the inspection of Padoca on Capel Street in Dublin, the HSE found evidence of cockroaches in the kitchen area. They said this was evidenced "by the presence of live cockroaches in the food preparation area...and under equipment such as fridges and fryers."

The report went on to say: "Open high risk food such as ham and cheese are stored in areas where cockroaches are likely to have contact with."

In its report on the closure order for the Golden Phoenix Chinese Restaurant in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, the HSE said "there was evidence of a lack of adequate and regular cleaning in food rooms.

"There was evidence that articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were not effectively cleaned and disinfected. Mould growth was visible on many structural and food contact surfaces."

The inspector said: "Inadequate and lack of cleaning may pose a risk of contamination of foodstuffs prepared on the premises which may result in illness and a risk to public health."

Enforcement Orders are served on food businesses only when a risk to consumer health has been identified, or where there are a number of ongoing breaches of food legislation.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the order was lifted.