Local food businesses served with closure orders

An Ardee pizzeria and Navan takeaway are among the food businesses served with recent closure orders by HSE Environmental Health Officers and officers of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

During the month of March, 11 enforcement orders were served nationwide for breaches of food safety legislation including closure orders on Mizzoni's Pizza Cafe, Irish Street, Ardee, and Sparkles Cocktails, Rivermill View, Navan.

Earlier this month, a closure order was also served on Vicos Grill, Ludlow Street, Navan. The closure order was imposed on 5th April and later lifted on 14th April. Details of the order are not yet available on the FSAI website.

On 21st March, Mizzoni Pizza Café, Irish Street, Ardee, was served with a closure order under the FSAI Act 1998 after evidence of rodent droppings were observed in the food and packaging store, kitchen area and the front service area. "Adequate procedures were not in place to prevent pests gaining entry to the food premises. A dead rat was observed in an open drain in the food and packaging store," the inspectors report noted adding that the conditions "pose a grave and immediate danger to public health". The order was lifted on 30th March.

Among the six closure orders served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 during March was one on Latifat Arekosoko also known as Latifah Arekosoko trading as Sparkles Cocktail, River Mill View, Navan. The order directed that all activities of the businesses be ceased and its internet sites or social media sites be ceased as the competant authority had not been notified of this food business. The order was imposed on 23rd March and has not yet been lifted.