Business is served with closure order

A CLOSURE order was served by the HSE on a Wexford food business last month.

Laura Chan, company director and secretary of House of Lotus Ltd, of 70 South Main Street was served with the order, directing the company to cease their supply of food to any other food business.

In correspondence to the company, the HSE outlined eleven breaches of food safety regulations and the risks associated with those breaches.

Breaches included: the lack of traceability data; the lack of food information through labelling or documentation; lack of a date of durability; lack of allergens information; a failure to identify critical control points of the production and supply; a lack of monitoring and control of risks; a failure to provide suitable wrapping and packaging materials; and a lack of verification checks and controls.

In addition to these breaches, there was a failure to comply with previous oral and written instructions from the HSE in relation to ensuring requirements were met.

The HSE report also referred to a lack of adequate workspace for the hygienic perofrmance of the additional preparation required to supply food to a mass caterer. It was pointed out that a new area of the kitchen, intended for this activity, had not been completed and was not operational (with the exception of the cold room).

Finally, the vehicle used for transporting food was not suitable to protect food from potential contamination as it failed to segregate raw and cooked food. It was pointed out that the vehicle was also used to transport waste oil, and raised the possibility of food contamination and a risk to public health.

The order was made on August 24, 2018, and has not yet been lifted.