Irish school meals provider The Lunch Bag was served a closure order after rodent droppings were found on ovens, food-contact materials and inside cupboards, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) announced on Thursday.
The closure order, issued by a Health Service Executive officer on September 23, stated that rodent droppings were found on the stainless steel rims of ovens, on food-contact materials, on shelving beneath a sink and inside cupboards.
The report also stated that the premises, equipment and bathroom were "not kept clean", with dead insects observed on window ledges and floors.
Order applies to all sites
The order applies to all sites associated with The Lunch Bag's food business activities: Timahoe GAA, Páirc Mhochua Cremorgan, Timahoe, and Portlaoise.
The report stated: "The above conditions pose a grave and immediate danger to public health. Food packaging and open foodstuffs were stored in the area leaving them exposed to contamination by rodents."
"There is a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state."
Other closure orders in September
The Lunch Bag was among 12 food businesses in Ireland served with closure orders in September for breaches of food safety legislation.
Nine other closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on: Furlong's Bar & Lounge and Nellie's Takeaway (Curracloe, Wexford); Fia's Café (57 Thomas Street, Prior's Land, Limerick); Pizza Petito (Takeaway, 9 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6); Centra (Retailer, Ardlo Manor, Mullagh, Cavan); Summergrove House (B&B used primarily as a private dwelling, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, Laois); Everest Kitchen Nepalese (Restaurant/Café, The Friary Bow, Abbey Street, Ennis, Clare); The Thatch (Restaurant/Café, Killenard, Portarlington, Laois); Marka Cadey 2 (Restaurant/Café, 5 Talbot Street, Dublin 1); and The Hopsack (Service Sector, Swan Leisure Centre, Lower Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6).
Two further closure orders were served under European Union Regulations 2020 on: Eskimo Pizza and Indian (Takeaway, Main Street, Ballyheigue, Kerry) and J2 Sushi & Bento (Restaurant/Café, 75 Main Street, Swords, County Dublin).
The closure order for Pizza Petito, also issued on September 23, stated that there was an "active infestation of rats in the premises and in particular in the kitchen area". The report said rodent droppings were "noted to be spread widely across the kitchen", including beneath a fridge.
FSAI chief executive comment
Greg Dempsey, chief executive of the FSAI, said on Thursday: "The Closure Orders served in September once again highlight the importance of maintaining robust food safety and hygiene practices across all food businesses."
"Issues such as inadequate pest control, poor cleaning standards and unsafe food storage continue to be the main reasons for enforcement action."
He added: "Food businesses should be continuously improving their food safety standards via regular training, availing of our free online learning portal, as well as promoting a strong culture of food safety within their businesses."
