Decomposed rat carcass and live cockroaches found on walls as several food businesses ordered to close across Ireland

A decomposed rat carcass and live cockroaches on walls were among the reasons several food businesses ordered to close across Ireland in December.

The FSAI has reported that nine Closure Orders were served on food businesses in Ireland during the month of December 2024 for breaches of food safety legislation.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive.

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Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Cork Rooftop Farm Limited (Retailer), 6-7 Cornmarket Street, Cork

Take Away Express, Northgate Street, Athlone, Westmeath

K&Q Snacks Limited (Wholesaler/Distributor), 76 Boyne Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11

Murphys Fish and Chips, 16 John Street, Waterford

Lam's Asian Cuisine & Eskimo Pizza (Restaurant/Café), Green Street, Callan, Kilkenny

Numidia Café, 31 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2

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Three Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. These were served on

Panda Chinese Take Away, Main Street, Clogheen, Tipperary

Asian Express (Take Away), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5

Taro Noodle & Sushi Bar (Restaurant/Café), Unit 2, Kish House, Greendale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5

The FSAI said that some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in December include: inadequate pest control measures in place; the presence of fresh rat droppings and decomposed rat carcass; live cockroaches on walls, floors and in a sticky trap; dirty premises, with accumulation of food debris, grease, dirt, and rat faeces; live and dead cockroaches throughout the food storage and preparation areas; ready-to-eat foods incorrectly stored; complete lack of cleaning; disorganisation in the storage of food and non-food-related equipment hindering adequate cleaning and disinfection; no evidence of a food safety management system in place.

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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.

You can see the full Enforcement Reports by clicking here