Three Enforcement Orders and Several Prosecutions in February: Food Safety Authority of Ireland Announcements

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that two Closure Orders and one Improvement Order were served on food businesses during the month of February for breaches in food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998. The Closure Orders were issued by environmental health officers (EHOs) in the HSE Dublin North East Region on The Loughbawn Hotel (the partially covered-in alleyway leading from the kitchen to the street), Main Street, Killeshandra, Cavan and by EHOs in the HSE South Region on Golden Beijing Restaurant, Ballincurra, Cork. An Improvement Order was also issued by EHOs in the HSE Dublin North East Region on Cavan Wholesale, Dublin Road, Cavan.

Also, during the month of February, the following successful prosecution was carried out by the HSE South Region on Mr Dees Chinese Restaurant C/o Raymond and Eliza Chow, Manor Court, Riverstown, Glanmire, Cork. A successful prosecution was also carried out by the HSE Dublin North East Region on Militti Take Away, 22 Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7.

Commenting on the latest figures, Prof Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI noted food businesses should be continuously reviewing their food safety policy and practices to ensure they protect consumer health in relation to food and that they abide by the law.

“The FSAI provides an advice line where our team of experts can help a food business with any queries they may have regarding food safety practices. It is of the utmost importance that food businesses are educated on the fundamentals of food safety skills in preventing bacterial food contamination, and we would urge operators to contact the FSAI advice line where our trained advisors and food scientists will happily provide up-to-date details of the latest food legislation, food safety training requirements, the recommended codes of practice and standards, and any other advice needed to ensure that all food prepared and served is safe to eat.”

“In addition, the advice line should be viewed by consumers as a regulatory source of action, where they can report unsatisfactory standards in a food premises which they have witnessed. All complaints received by the FSAI are referred to environmental health officers who investigate each complaint thoroughly. Consumers and food businesses can contact the FSAI advice line from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday on lo-call 1890 33 66 77 or info@fsai.ie,” he concluded.

Details of the food businesses served with these Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed 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.

MKRMS Food Safety Training Update

A MKRMS Food Safety Basic Food Hygiene Course is going to be held in Wexford Town on the 18th March 2010.

This course meets the requirements for food safety training in retail and catering as recommended by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Participation is certified with a MKRMS Certificate of Attendance. A MKRMS Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to participants who successfully pass the course exam.

Email for information or bookings: training@mkrms.com

This training course that can make your business legally compliant with food safety training requirements and will help to protect you from customer claims and complaints by educating your employees in best hygiene practice.

Date: 18 March 2010
Venue: Stanville Lodge Hotel, Barntown
Time: 9.00 to 5.30
Cost: € 180.00 per person, including lunch and course materials.
MKRMS will donate €20.10 of each participant's fee to the Wexford Women's Refuge for all Basic Food Hygiene courses booked in 2010.

Alarming: FSAI received nearly 2,000 Complaints on Food Standards in 2009

The Food Safety Authority today reported it received 1,981 complaints on food standards from consumers last year through its advice line (Tel.: 1890 33 66 77). This represents almost one-third of all complaints received and amounts to more than five complaints daily!
The highest number of complaints was received on unfit (contaminated, incorrectly labelled or out-of-date) foods (858), followed by complaints on hygiene standards (408). 363 customers notified the FSAI about suspected food poisoning.
Ms Edel Conway, Information Manager FSAI, commented that these statistics reflect the power of consumer behaviour and action towards food products and food premises that do (not) meet adequate standards.
Avoid your business making the headlines this year by training all staff in good hygiene practices and in the basics of the HACCP system.
MKRMS has courses on offer to suit all your company needs. Courses can also be tailored to specific needs of individual companies. Contact us for information: training@mkrms.com or have a look at our website here to see how we can help your business keep or improve its standards.

Text of the FSAI press release here.