This article is from page 5 of the 2006-08-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
AN Ennis restaurant was ordered to close its doors last month after breaching food safety legislation.
The Food Safety Authority (FSA) last week announced that O’Connors Restaurant, 10 Merchant Square, Ennis, was one of a number of food businesses in Ireland which environmental health officers served with closure orders during July. The restaurant was closed down on July 7 and the order was lifted on July 13.
Closure Orders were also served in the HSE Western Region on Jack Bans Take Away, Main Street, Kilcar, Donegal. Veterinary inspectors in Cavan County Council served closure orders on Mr Desmond Keyes, Mullanacre Lower, Ballyconnell, Cavan and Mr John D Keyes, Droghill, Belturbet, Cavan for the operation of unofficial slaughterhouses. A closure order was also served on Peng Lai Chinese Grocery, 101 Parnell Street, Dublin 1. The penalties were handed down for breaches of food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998.
Peter Whelan of the FSA said high temperatures and staffing levels make summer a particularly problematic time of the year for the food business.
“This time of the year is particularly bad when you consider that the temperature is higher and you have more people with increased numbers of tourists and greater volumes of food being produced. In some cases, you have casual workers – who might not be familiar with food controls and procedures – being hired.”
He urged those involved in the food industry to take “a common sense approach to food safety” and follow correct hygiene and storage procedures.