Rodents Lead to Restaurant Closures

Active rodent infestations have led to closure orders being issued at two Dublin restaurants.

The orders were among a total of eight closure orders issued to food businesses across the country by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland last month.

Jazz Chinese Restaurant in Coolock, Co Dublin, and Freshly Chopped & Neat Pizza in Fairview, Co Dublin, were both found to have active rodent infestations in kitchen areas where open foods are prepared. The rodent infestations were evidenced in both establishments by the presence of recent droppings in multiple areas of the kitchens.

A closure order was issued at Letterkenny Kebab and Pizza after inspectors found rice near the wok cooking station that was “covered in blue mould and was turning purple in colour”. Inspectors also found raw meat stored above ready-to-eat taco sauce and noted that taps, basins and handles were engrained in dirt.

FSAI Chief Executive Pamela Byrne warned that there is a legal responsibility for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to their customers is safe to eat.

A total of eight premises were issued with closure orders during the month of August, two under the FSAI Act and six under EU regulations: