Twelve Enforcement Orders served in July
The FSAI issued twelve Enforcement Orders in July, citing serious food safety breaches including rodent infestations, poor hygiene, and unsafe food storage
Print19 August 2025
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recently reported that ten Closure Orders and two Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses during July for breaches of food safety legislation, under the FSAI Act, 1998, and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. Environmental Health Officers issued enforcement orders within the Health Service Executive (HSE).
FSAI and the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service will continue to monitor the food business to ensure it complies with the High Court’s order
An order of the High Court was granted on an ex-parte basis in those terms on 29 July 2025, with the matter back before the High Court on 27 August 2025, with the parties given liberty to apply to the High Court in the interim.
FSAI and the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service will continue to monitor the food business to ensure it complies with the High Court’s order, the HSE’s closure order and the relevant food legislation.
Reasoning
Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in July include: rat droppings found in a dishwasher room and food store and noted at a main customer entrance; inadequate means to wash hands preventing frequent handwashing in a kitchen; owners and staff not wearing clean protective clothing during food preparation; dead beetles observed in the bottom of a container of packaged food displayed for sale; various foods such as meat and poultry based curries and yoghurt and vegetable based condiments being kept at unsafe temperatures; rat droppings found in a storage unit which was used to store food and food contact materials such as reusable cups, lids and straws; numerous rodent droppings noted on high and low level shelving where food was stored; dead cockroaches in a main kitchen under worksurfaces where food is prepared and under cooking equipment where food is cooked; extensive food debris on the floor of the store room, on the shop floor and on the floor of a bakery.
Mr Greg Dempsey, chief executive, FSAI, said: “Recent foodborne incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for food businesses to maintain the highest food safety standards.
“Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they purchase is safe, and food businesses have a clear legal and moral responsibility to ensure that it is.
“The Enforcement Orders issued this month reflect serious, preventable breaches of food safety law.
“Every food business must take its responsibility to comply with food safety law seriously.
“The FSAI can provide support and advice to food businesses to help them meet their obligations.
“However, as demonstrated by the enforcement actions this month, where food businesses do not comply with their obligations, we will take action.”
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.
Read more: FSAI reassures consumers regarding recent recalls associated with Listeria
© 2025, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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