In April 2025, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued ten enforcement orders to food businesses nationwide following disturbing discoveries during routine inspections. The list includes eight closure orders and two improvement notices, each revealing shocking breaches of hygiene law that put public health at serious risk.

Rotten Standards Behind Closed Kitchen Doors

Among the worst violations was at Namaste Indian Cuisine in Smithfield, Dublin 7. Inspectors found human faeces smeared on the walls of the staff toilet, filthy handwashing facilities, no paper towels or hand dryers, and no evidence of frequent handwashing. Food preparation tools were improperly cleaned, and no protective clothing was worn by kitchen staff during food prep. There were also glaring gaps in food traceability documentation. In short, it was a hygiene horror story.

Meanwhile, Greenville Deli in Monkstown, County Dublin, was ordered to close after mouse droppings were found in multiple food areas, including a cleaning cupboard and under the kitchen sink. The report highlighted a clear failure to implement pest control and sanitation measures, raising serious concerns about contamination and disease transmission.

A Pattern of Neglect Across the Country

The breaches didn’t stop in Dublin. Other businesses closed included:

• Soul Bakery and TPB, Dublin 12: Rodent droppings found in the production area and even on bags of flour.
• The City Arms Gastro Bar/Bistro, Waterford: A closure order was issued due to unacceptable hygiene standards.
• Tasty Takeaway, Limerick: Shut down over continued non-compliance with basic food regulations.
• Bojon Spices, Meath: Described as “unhygienic at the time of inspection.”
• Barne Lodge, Tipperary: Premises in an overall dirty condition.
• Rio Latte Bar, Dublin 7: Cited for an unclean environment unfit for food service.

Additionally, Sancta Maria Nursing Home in Meath and Sligo Spice in Sligo were hit with improvement orders. The former lacked a safe water supply for food preparation and cleaning, and the latter had structural and hygiene concerns requiring immediate correction.

The FSAI’s Stern Warning

FSAI’s Chief Executive, Greg Dempsey, didn’t mince words:

“Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe to eat. These violations were not minor oversights — they were entirely preventable. There are no excuses.”

He also noted that the closure and improvement orders served as a stark reminder to all food businesses that failure to comply with legal obligations could and would result in swift action. The FSAI’s public database of orders remains live and searchable, making violations transparent to the public.

Public Health at Risk

The nature of the violations shows that these aren’t simply bureaucratic technicalities — they directly threaten public health. Rodent infestations, dirty equipment, lack of soap, and failure to track food origin all open the door to serious illness, including E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and even hepatitis.

When asked about the rise in orders, one inspector noted:

“Some of these premises showed complete disregard for hygiene basics. We’re talking about rat droppings in kitchens and feces on bathroom walls. That’s not negligence — that’s negligence at its most dangerous.”

Consumers Urged to Stay Vigilant

The FSAI has reminded the public to look out for hygiene rating certificates and to report suspicious food handling or conditions via their online complaint system. Dempsey added,

“This is a two-way street. We’ll continue enforcing, but we also need eyes on the ground. If you suspect something’s not right, report it.”

As the hospitality sector continues to recover post-COVID, these enforcement orders are a wake-up call to both business owners and diners. Cleanliness isn’t optional — it’s the first ingredient in any meal served to the public.

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