Enforcement order served on chip van in roundfort

A CHIP van operating in Roundfort has been served with a closure order, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported.

The closure order served on the 'Fish & Chips' chip van or catering trailer was one of eight such orders, along with one prohibition order, served on food businesses during the month of June for breaches of food safety legislation. The orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive.

The order in respect of the chip van in Roundfort was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010. Closure orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities. Closure orders and improvement orders remain listed on the FSAI website (www.fsai.ie) 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.

Commenting, Dr. Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, warned that food businesses need to be vigilant in relation to food safety and ensure they are fully compliant with food legislation at all times. 

She said: “Unfortunately, inspection officers encounter negligent food safety practices and non-compliance with food legislation. However, there can be no justification for these breaches, which can endanger consumers’ health and undermine the confidence they should expect to have in the safety of the food they eat. This has serious negative implications not only for the premises involved, but for the wider food industry.”

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 info@fsai.ie or visit its website www.fsai.ie or Facebook page.