THE FOOD Safety Authority has closed one county Limerick restaurant and slapped an improvement order on another, according to reports just published.
A closure order was served on Kebabish, on Main Street, Bruree, after inspectors found that freshly cut chips and a freezer unit was kept beside a toilet, staff untrained in food safety were preparing and handling food, and fish was stored in unsafe conditions.
Little Neros in The Square, Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, was served with an improvement order, which it must comply with or face closure.
The restaurant was ordered to relocate sinks and food prep surfaces, provide hot and cold water in all sinks, remove mould, and deep clean fixtures, fittings, and furniture.
The report on Kebabish in Bruree stated that “the current layout and space available at the premises is insufficient for the current food business activity”.
“The base of the pizza fridge at the front preparation area was engrained in dirt and old food particles”, according to the report, and foods were stored without either dates or labels.
“In the corridor, bins of fresh-cut chips were stored for immediate use and stored directly beside the toilet, which opens directly into the corridor. The freezer unit in the corridor is located adjacent to the toilet which opens directly onto this area.
“There were no changing facilities for staff,” the report added.
“The water is slow to drain from the wash basin at the front counter. It was seen on the day a blocked manhole at the side of the building, which may result in failure to adequately allow for effective drainage.
“Cleaning equipment and chemicals are stored in areas where food is handled and stored.
“The rear store room is currently not adequate to ventilate the chicken boiler (Henny Penny) unit.
“At the time of the inspection, the fish was being stored at 11.7 degrees.”
The report says: “A vulnerable food such as fish stored in the danger zone between five and 63 degrees is a high risk for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and this is a risk to food safety and public health.”
Untrained food workers were also working there, the report noted, adding that “staff were not wearing PPE”.
“The failure of food workers to wear clean and appropriate PPE may contaminate foodstuffs and result in compromising food and public health.”
