Closure order enforced on Waterford take-away operating out of private house

A closure order has been served on the Shinu George take-away, Ardkeen Village, Waterford.

The business, operated by Mr. Shinu George, was served the order on February 7, 2024. The order was issued by a Health Service Executive (HSE) officer in respect of the EU’s Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation Regulations, 2020.

The closure order outlined that ‘part of the activities of the business, its establishments, holdings or other premises be ceased due to the ‘use of domestic premises to provide off-site catering’.

It also indicated the business’s ‘failure to comply with hygiene requirements for premises used primarily as a private dwelling-house where foods are regularly prepared for placing on the market.’ The HSE officer who undertook the investigation said: “As this is a domestic premises, it does not offer sufficient facilities and working space to allow for the hygienic performance, storage and cooking of high-risk foodstuffs for off-site catering.” Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that food safety is a legal requirement and that all food businesses must comply with the law.

“Food safety is not a ‘nice to have’ in a food businesss,” said Dr Byrne.

“It’s a legal requirement and the law is there to protect consumer health,” she added.

“Consumers have a right to safe food and the food business owner is legally responsible for ensuring that the food they produce is safe to eat.” She also commented: “Maintaining a clean premises that is fit for purpose, managing pest control, properly labelling produce and providing traceability information are mandatory legal requirements for all food businesses.” Ms Byrne said that “by neglecting to uphold basic food safety and hygiene standards, a business not only jeopardises the health of its customers, but also risks damaging its own reputation as a trustworthy food business”.