Posted: July 8th, 2010 - 7:02am by Doug Powell

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said seven food businesses were ordered to shut down over safety breaches in just the last month.

The chief executive of the FSAI, Prof Alan Reilly, said "it was unacceptable" that so many orders had been issued in June, adding,

"Food businesses that chose to ignore the law will not be tolerated. Consumers have a right to feel confident that the food they are purchasing is safe to eat and every enforcement order undermines that confidence, which affects not only the premises involved, but the industry as a whole.”

Prof Reilly further said there was "no excuse for food businesses to be unaware of their legal responsibilities to protect consumer health."

“We would stress to food businesses the importance of maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene at all times. One of the simplest ways to ensure food is produced safely is that basic hygiene standards are met and yet this continues to be an issue for some food businesses."