Edenderry eatery served with food safety closure order last month
A Japanese and Chinese restaurant in Edenderry was served with a closure order for breaches of food safety legislation last month.
The closure order was issued to Hayashi, at 3 JKL Street, Edenderry, on February 7 last. It was then lifted two days later, when the issues that led to the closure were rectified.
The closure notice was one of ten that were served on businesses nationally for breaching food safety legislation during the month of February.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) publishes the closure orders on its website, and the Edenderry notice was served on Hayashi Cuisine Ltd, trading as Hayashi.
Outlining the reasons for the order, the inspector representing the FSAI said the premises "was not maintained in a clean condition" and that this has been raised with the business previously.
"This lack of adequate cleaning in the premise (sic) was identified during previous inspections and you have failed again to maintain consistent cleaning standards at your premises," the closure order stated.
It also said mould growth had been "visible on food shelving and on ceilings and walls throughout the rear preparation and storage areas" in the kitchen, and its floor was "unclean with dirt and grease noted at edging of walls, underneath equipment and tables and behind chest freezers".
The inspector found that "articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were not effectively cleaned and disinfected".
Furthermore, the closure order pointed out that sushi production was "an extremely high-risk process" and said there was "insufficient evidence to demonstrate adequate food safety controls in the production of sushi" at Hayashi.
The closure order was lifted and the business, was cleared to reopen on February 9 last.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI, said food safety was a legal requirement and that all food businesses must comply with the law.
"Food safety is not a 'nice to have' in a food business. It's a legal requirement and the law is there to protect consumer health.
"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.
"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," Dr Byrne stated.