Midlands Takeaway Restaurant Issued Food Safety Closure Order

Photo credit: Google Maps

The Closure Order was issued last month.

A fast-food restaurant in the midlands has been temporarily shut down by the Food Safety Authority.

Roma Takeaway on Main Street, Portarlington was one of five restaurants issued with a Closure Order in June for breaches of food safety legislation.

It was ordered to close with immediate effect on 8th June for a number of breaches including inadequate standards of cleaning, a failure to prevent possible pest entry to the premises, and staff demonstrating a lack of knowledge or understanding regarding food safety requirements.

The Closure Order was lifted again on 10th June.

Commenting today, Dr. Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that it is unacceptable that staff are unaware of their responsibilities as food handlers;

"Food business owners have a duty to their customers, their staff and themselves to ensure food regulations are being followed on their premises. 

"It is not acceptable firstly that staff are not wearing appropriate protective clothing and secondly that they are unaware of the risks of possible food contamination when they do not follow such food preparation guidance. 

"Staff must be properly trained and/or supervised to ensure compliance with the legal requirements and attention must be paid to the basics of good handwashing, effective cleaning and proper storage of food. These legal requirements are in place to ensure that consumers’ health is not being put at risk. 

"Enforcement Orders are not served for minor breaches and consumers have a right to safe food."

Four Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

The Hudson Rooms (restaurant) (Closed area: Ground floor bar and indoor seating area), Unit 3 Western End Rotunda, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road North, Clondalkin, Dublin 22;
The Hudson Rooms (restaurant) (Closed area: Ground floor kitchen area, first floor bar and rear storage to ensure entire food operation has ceased), Unit 3 Western End Rotunda, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road North, Clondalkin, Dublin 22;
Apache Pizza, 37 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin;
Roma Take Away, Main Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois.

One Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Han Lin Palace (now under new management from 18 June 2022) (restaurant), 13-15 Bridge Street, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.

Also, during the month of June, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:

Freestyle Buffet, 23-24 North Main Street, Cork.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at fsai.ie.

Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will 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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