FSAI calls increase in enforcement orders ‘unacceptable’

The number of enforcement measures taken against food businesses went up in 2024 in Ireland prompting officials to describe the rise as “unacceptable.”

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that 133 enforcement orders were served on companies for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase from 92 in 2023.

The agency said the legal responsibility lies with businesses to make sure they train staff to produce, serve and sell food that is safe to eat, and ensure that premises are clean and pest proofed.

In 2024, 115 closure orders, 16 prohibition orders and two improvement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Recurring issues included a lack of pest control procedures; inadequate regular and thorough cleaning; failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs; unsuitable food storage facilities; and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene. 

Dr. Pamela Byrne, FSAI chief executive, said the figures were unacceptable.

“It is concerning to see a significant increase in enforcement orders in 2024. Consumers have a right to safe food and negligent food practices are inexcusable,” she said.

“Enforcement orders, especially closure and prohibition orders, are never issued for minor breaches; they are served only when a serious risk to consumer health is identified or when ongoing breaches of food legislation pose significant hygiene or operational issues. Inadequate or absent pest control procedures was a recurring issue throughout 2024 and pest control needs to be addressed by all food businesses this year. 

“While the majority of food businesses comply with the legislation, it is unacceptable to see recurring issues that are entirely avoidable. These fundamental breaches not only pose a potential risk to consumer health, but also undermine consumer trust.” 

Campylobacter in livers
Meanwhile, researchers have assessed the prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken, beef, pork, and sheep livers at abattoirs in Ireland.

A total of 45 to 50 samples for each meat type were collected between February and August 2022. Results were published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Campylobacter was found in 35 of 50 chicken, 2 of 45 beef, 8 of 50 pork and 36 of 45 sheep livers. Nine samples were positive for more than one Campylobacter species with five of these samples recovered from sheep livers.

Two clusters were identified between isolates from the study and human clinical data.

“These results highlight the role of liver as a potential source of human Campylobacter infection. The significance of liver and sheep as a vehicle of human campylobacteriosis needs to be examined further in respect to other factors such as dose–response information, consumption data, frequency of undercooking, and cross contamination at retail and by consumers,” said scientists.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/fsai-calls-increase-in-enforcement-orders-unacceptable/