The breach is recognised as being in violation of European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.
Closure orders are served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises
The McDonald’s branch identified as being in violation of the legislation is located at The Waterfront, Rathmullen Road, Drogheda, Co Louth and the order was served to Glencullen Restaurant Ltd which operates that branch.
The part of the restaurant implicated in the closure notice, as served by the FSAI on 27 August, concerns a storage unit at the side of the premises which was inspected by a HSE food safety officer.
The officer’s report on the findings of the unit’s inspection said the droppings were found on shelving and food equipment inside the unit.
It also highlighted how the unit was “inadequately pest-proofed” with “numerous gaps, holes, and defects in the structure” that could allow rodents to enter.
The report also flagged how the unit stored hygiene materials such as gloves and paper rolls which presented a “significant risk” of cross-contamination from frequent handling by restaurant staff.
The closure order has not been lifted.
Seven other food businesses were issued with closure orders, including restaurants, cafés and wholesalers.
Pizza restaurant Paulista at 121 Dorset Street Upper, north Dublin, was issued with a closure order on 6 August for breaching the FSAI Act 1998 after the discovery of a cockroach infestation “at all stages of the life cycle” in the basement kitchen, including living and dead cockroaches which were visible in the sink and inside a freezer.
The closure order was lifted on 22 August.
A premises belonging to wholesaler BK Foods Limited in Newbridge, Co Kildare was ordered to close on 26 August due to an absence of precautions in place to control pests which resulted in the discovery of “rat droppings” during an inspection, in contravention of the FSAI Act 1998.
The closure order for the premises remains in place.
The inspection also found that food within the company’s distribution house was in “serious risk” of contamination caused by rat droppings due to an absence of protective materials conducive to producing food that is “fit for consumption”.
A lack of handwashing observed among food handlers, as well as misleading information relating to the preparation of sushi, were among the reasons for the issuance of a closure order to part of Wau Asian Cuisine Limited in Trim, Co Meath.
The closure order remains in place.
Speaking on the “disappointing” findings, FSAI chief executive, Greg Dempsey, said: “Businesses selling food to consumers need to ensure that they met their legal obligations, and that the food they sell is safe to eat.
“While the majority of food businesses take their responsibilities to their customers very seriously, we continue to see a small number of businesses subject to enforcement action, including closure, due to their non-compliances with basic food safety standards.”