Rodent infestations and hygiene failures force closure of seven food businesses, says FSAI

A rodent “infestation”, live mice in a warehouse, and staff unfamiliar with the contents of “any food safety management procedure” were among the reasons why food businesses were ordered to close by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in March.The FSAI served seven closure orders to food businesses last month, five under the FSAI Act, 1998, and two under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.On March 26, inspectors served a closure order, under the FSAI Act of 1998, on China Palace, of 11 Main Street, Roscommon, after FSAI inspectors found evidence of "a rodent infestation in a room which houses the staff toilet, staff storage facilities and laundry facilities".Inspectors also found a dead rat in a rat trap and numerous rat droppings behind a washing machine on the premises. The order was lifted on April 1.During an inspection of Stela Foods, located at Unit 2 of Greenhills Business Park in Drogheda on March 19, inspectors say...