A POPULAR Dublin pub has been hit with a closure order after “rodent droppings” and “gnawed wall paper” were discovered on the premises.
The Bankers pub on the south side of Dublin city was one of seven businesses slapped a closure order last month by the The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
All parts of the kitchen located in the basement were required to close after an inspection found “adequate procedures were not in place to control pests”.
The order was handed down on November 4, 2024 and lifted on November 7, 2024 under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The report detailed: “There was rodent droppings noted in the passageway next to the kitchen and leading to the dry store.
“There was rodent droppings noted beside the air compressor in the passage leading to the ice machine.
“There was evidence of gnawed wall paper in the passage next to the kitchen and gnawing of a black bin bag of waste adjacent to the kitchen.”
The report also detailed how the premises was not “adequately pest proof”.
There was a hole in hall passage way leading to the kitchen dry store, the road level gate was not effectively sealed, there was noticeable gaps in the door adjacent to the kitchen and the plasterboard in the passage to the kitchen and dry store was damaged.
Some of the other reasons for the seven closures in November include: active cockroach infestation; rodent activity and rodent droppings; premises being used as accommodation; lack of hand washing facilities in a room where raw food is handled.
Other reasons include grease leaking from a pipe underneath a food preparation sink; containers of cooked meat, raw meats and sauces in a cold room uncovered and with no expiry dates.
Speaking on the closures Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI said: “With the Christmas period already underway and the corresponding significant increase in demand for food services, food businesses must ensure that they maintain the highest food safety standards at all times, most especially at these busy times, when cutting corners or letting standards lapse could result in a health risk to consumers.”
She continued: “Consumers have a right to safe food, and there is a personal responsibility on owners, managers and all employees to comply with food safety legal requirements at all times.
“Neglecting food safety demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of customers and potentially places their health at an unnecessary risk.
“There can be zero tolerance for negligent practices that put consumers’ health at risk, and the full powers of food law will be used if a food business is found to be in breach.”
And Dr Byrne added: “Food businesses must ensure there is a strong food safety culture in place, including adequate training for all staff. This simply must be a top priority for food businesses.”
OTHER CLOSURE ORDERS
Three other premises were served with closure orders under the same Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation.
FLC on Drogheda Street Balbriggan, Co Dublin were ordered to close activities involving the sale and supply of milk shakes and desserts on November 16, 2024.
In Limerick Grill Kebab on Main Street, Broadford were ordered to close on November 14, 2024 with the order lifted on November 20, 2024.
And Shapla Indian Spice restaurant in Carlow was handed a closure order on November 27, 2024 and was lifted days later on November 29, 2024.
Two other closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Lotus Asian Food Takeaway, 2 The Hill, Stillorgan and Indian Spices, 138 Parnell Street, both in Dublin.
The Parnell Street joint were handed the order on November 6 while Loutus Asian Food Takeaway received theirs on November 11.
RETAIL PROBATION ORDER
One probation order was given in November to Big Discount.ie, 12 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Louth.
It was served on November 6, 2024 under the under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
The FSAI detail “67 sealed plastic bags containing unidentifiable frozen raw meat and fish stored in 2 chest freezers” were withdrawn.
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