The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served four closure orders and one prohibition order on food businesses during August, the authority confirmed today (Wednesday, September 8).

The orders relate to breaches in food safety legislation pursuant to the FSAI Act 1998 and EU regulations.

The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and officers of the FSAI.

Two closure orders were served under EU regulations on:

Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act 1998 on:

One prohibition order was served under the FSAI Act 1998 on Heaney Meats Catering, Liosban Industrial Estate, Co. Galway.

Among the reasons that the FSAI outlined (without saying which businesses were closed for which reasons) for the serving of these five orders were:

Dr. Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, highlighted that there was a legal responsibility on food businesses to act responsibly and ensure food they provide to customers is safe to eat.

"There is no excuse for behaviour which has the potential to put customers health at risk. We are once again appealing to all food businesses to ensure they are fully compliant with food safety procedures and hygiene legislation," she stressed.

Details of the food businesses on which orders have been served are published on the FSAI's website.

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.