Record number of food safety warnings issued by FSAI
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed that in 2012, it handed out a record number of official warnings to businesses caught flouting food safety regulations.
The FSAI handed out a total of 109 Enforcement Orders to food premises and other food-serving businesses, after carrying out investigations and finding breaches of food safety regulations. The body has also revealed that:
- 3 food businesses were simply ordered to improve standards
- 15 businesses were given Prohibition Orders which stopped them from selling certain products
- 91 eateries were actually closed for a short time whilst conditions and standards were improved
The figures are 30 per cent higher last year than they were in 2011 when just 84 food businesses received warnings over food safety breaches.
The chief executive of the FSAI, Professor Alan Reilly, commented on this increase, saying:
“This increase is extremely disappointing and serves as an unfortunate reminder that there continues to be food business operators who put consumers’ health at risk by not complying with their legal obligations for food safety and hygiene.”
Professor Reilly also warned all businesses to make the implementation of a food safety management system a top priority in 2013, along with food safety training and proper hygiene practices.