DUBLIN: Fourteen food businesses were forced to close by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in May.
This is the highest number of closures in one month so far this year.
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The Dragon Taste restaurant in Dolphin’s Barn and Starry Kitchen in Drumcondra were among four eateries to receive a closure order in Dublin.
The 10 other closure orders related to food outlets in counties Tipperary, Waterford, Roscommon, Cork, Wicklow, Cavan, Meath, Limerick and Offaly.
A closure order is issued when there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at the food premises.
In addition to a closure order, Mr Ivan Ebbitt of Erne Hill, Belturbet, Co Cavan was served a prohibition order for operating an unapproved food premises.
Dr Bernard Hegarty, the director of service contracts of FSAI, said 40 closure orders and five prohibitions had been issued this year.
“There’s a rising trend overall but 2014 saw a reverse in the trend,” he said.
He told The Irish Times there were fluctuations around the numbers each month.
“Inspectors call in unannounced, these aren’t planned, and then they respond to the situations they find,” he said.
Dr Hegarty said more than 30,000 inspections food premises were inspected each year and owners were given the right to appeal to the District Court if they felt the severity of the sanction was unjustified.]
