TWO WEXFORD restaurants were forced to close during July for breaches of food safety legislation according to a release from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recently.

Nine closure orders were served under the FSAI Act of 1998 and among them was the Crescent View Restaurant in Crescent Quay. The order was served on Mr. Mohamed Elnashar on July 15 and lifted again the following day.

Seven closure orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations of 2010. One of those served with an enforcement was the Blackwater Lodge Hotel. The notice was served on Martin Sinnott of Lighteright Limited on July 21 and was lifted on July 24. It ordered the cessation of all food preparation and service activities in and from the kitchen and ancillary areas.

Commenting on the high level of Enforcement Orders served in July, Dr. Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI expressed her disappointment at the lack of vigilance by some owners in ensuring their food businesses were fit for purpose and fully compliant with food safety legislation.

“While the vast majority of food businesses are compliant with food safety legislation, unfortunately we continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is put at risk through a failure to comply with food safety and hygiene requirements.

“These breaches are completely avoidable when food businesses have proper food safety management systems in place. Food safety must be paramount.  This requires greater focus to safeguard against standards slipping and to ensure that food served is safe to eat.”

Dr. Byrne urged food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided by the inspectorate and the FSAI to ensure that they have the correct food safety management systems in place.

If any food business owner is unsure of what is required of them by law, they can contact the FSAI advice line at [email protected] or visit its website www.fsai.ie or facebook page.