E-coli in drinking water and ‘food sitting in foul water’: four food businesses served closure orders in October

Reasons for the closure orders being issued included e coli found in drinking water and food that was found “sitting in foul water” that had flowed into a kitchen from a broken waste water drain.

At Indian Spices on Parnell Street, Dublin 1, a broken waste water drain serving apartments above the restaurant led to foul water flowing into the kitchen. Food, including potatoes, was found sitting in the foul water, making it unfit for human consumption.

“This foul water was being spread throughout the kitchen on the feet and hands of staff which is likely to contaminate food with pathogens such as e-coli or salmonella,” the closure order reads.

Today’s News in 90 seconds – November 9th

The Parnell Street restaurant was also found to have no hand wash facility in its kitchen. The closure order issued on October 10 was lifted two days later.

A sample of the drinking water at Base Coffee on the Newbridge Road in Kilcullen, Co Kildare found a number of contaminants including e-coli, posing “a grave and immediate danger to public health”.

A closure order was issued on October 26 and is yet to be lifted.

Mizzoni Pizza on Railway Street in Navan, Co Meath was served a closure order on October 27 for eight reasons, including a lack of proper allergen management leading to a risk of “life threatening allergic reaction”.

Fryers in the takeaway were being used for foods with different allergen profiles and equipment coming into contact with food was not being cleaned.

In Co Roscommon at Seasons Chinese, Bridge Street, Strokestown, raw chicken was found left out on surfaces at room temperature and containers of raw chicken were stored at room temperature instead of being refrigerated.

Frozen chicken was found thawing at room temperature and the premises was “filthy”, with a piece of dirty cardboard used as a surface for cooked rice.

Cooked noodles were being left to cool next to raw meat preparation, creating a risk of cross contamination. There was no hand washing observed during the inspection of Seasons Chinese.

The closure order on the Roscommon business was served on October 26 and lifted on November 2.

Today’s News in 90 seconds – November 9th

Meanwhile, Meghan’s Café on Cecilia Street in Dublin 2 was served a prohibition order on 20 food products as they were not being kept at the proper temperature, risking the reproduction of “pathogenic micro-organisms”.

The prohibition order meant the sale of the products was suspended. It was served to the café on October 2 and lifted on October 9.

FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said “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. Consumers have a right to safe food, and there is a personal responsibility for managers and all employees to comply with food safety legal requirements at all times,” Dr Byrne said.

“Neglecting food safety demonstrates disregard for the well-being of customers and also 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.”