Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in December include a failure to notify the competent authority of the establishment of a food business; active mouse infestation evidenced by droppings throughout food storage and preparation areas, and defective drainage and sewage systems, with foul water leaking and backing up from the toilets
Several Irish food businesses were hit with Closure Orders by the FSAI last month – stock photo(Image: )
A total of eight food businesses in Ireland were hit with closure orders in December, including a Chinese takeaway which was ordered to shut over fears the food may contain “fecal matter”.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued eight closure orders last month, shutting businesses for a number of reasons.
Food businesses are served closure orders “where it is deemed there is or is likely to be” a danger to public health at the premises.
The closure orders handed out to eight food businesses last month were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI.
You can find the full list of establishments issued with closure orders in December below.
One Closure Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Crosfield Unit 4 Bymac Centre, Northwest Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15 – This wholesaler based in north west Dublin was issued with a Closure Order on December 18 over their failure to “permit good food hygiene practices including protection against contamination and, in particular, pest control. Health inspectors discovered “evidence of an infestation found within the premises with extensive mice droppings noted throughout the premises,” while officials also noted that “there were a lot of droppings around one of the 2 bait boxes in the premises”. The Closure order has yet to be lifted.
Meanwhile seven Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
Taha Butchers, 13 Railway Street, Navan, Meath – The food and food equipment storage facility at the rear of the premises were ordered to close on December 19. Health inspectors said “the food and equipment storage area, which was a covered courtyard located to the rear of the premises, was not suitable for the storage of any food and food equipment. This structure was not weather proof. The roof consisted of perspex material which is difficult to clean. This area had no flooring and the external walls were not finished to the standard of a food room meaning effective cleaning cannot take place. Inspectors also noted that there was evidence of mould growth also evident. There were also gaps noted around the back door which were open to the external air, which may support pest activity.Ruby’s Cakes (Manufacturer), Durhamstown Castle, Bohermeen, Navan, Meath – This Navan bakery was ordered to close on December 12 following the discovery of an active mouse infestation in the premises, as evidenced by the presence of numerous mouse droppings on food storage and floor surfaces. The order was lifted on December 15.EB Food Essentials, Unregistered establishment trading at Coolanagh, Ballickmoyler, Laois – This food shop was issued with a closure order on December 10 after being found to be unregistered, meaning official controls were carried out to verify compliance with food law. The closure has not yet been lifted.Quack N Wok (Takeaway), Unit 3A, Gandon House, Custom House Square I.F.S.C, Mayor Street Lower, Dublin 1. This Chinese takeaway located in the IFSC in Dublin was ordered to close on December 8 after health inspectors discovered non-compliance. In the report, health inspectors wrote: “The drainage system was not adequate and was malfunctioning. This was likely to result in food and food contact equipment being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, rendering it unfit for human consumption.” They also found that food prepared in the eatery could contain “fecal matter”. The closure has not yet been lifted.Sasaki Sushi (Service Sector), 3 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 – This north Dublin sushi restaurant was issued with a closure order on December 8. Among the reasons the closure order was issued was that inspectors found raw fish, purchased for sushi and sashimi, left in a hand basin after delivery, with no temperature monitoring records maintained, while there was also “no evidence of regular and routine cleaning being conducted throughout the premises”. The closure order has not yet been lifted,Centra, Main Street, Killenaule, Tipperary – The deli area of this busy Centra store was ordered to close on December 5 after health inspectors found the premises to be “inadequately cleaned” which risked “immediate contamination”. It was also noted that food equipment was positioned in such a way that effective cleaning couldn’t be upheld leading to food debris within the area. The cooked meat slicer also contained old food debris and old residues of food on contact surfaces which posed an “immediate contamination risk”. The order has not yet been lifted.Unregistered premises trading as Selera Space, at an apartment at Sandyford Central, Sandyford Business Park, Dublin 18 – This business was ordered to close on December 4 as the “operator had not notified the competent authority of this food business establishment with a view to registration of the establishment”. It was also discovered that “there was no evidence to demonstrate that the food business operator was trained in food safety commensurate with their duties”. The closure order has not yet been lifted.
Commenting on the December 2025 figures, Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “Two of the seven Closure Orders in December were for businesses where they had failed to notify the competent authority of the establishment of a food business.
“It is unacceptable that some food businesses are choosing to operate outside of the law. All food business owners, big or small, whether trading from a business premises, in the home, from a mobile unit, food truck and/or online, must be aware of food hygiene and food safety legislation.
“Maintaining high food safety standards protects consumers and supports the long-term success of businesses, and enforcement action is taken where necessary to ensure compliance.”
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website.
Closure Orders and Improvement Orders remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website 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.
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