A FAST food restaurant on Hyde Road was temporarily closed by the Food Safety Authority after inspectors found food being prepared in the middle of ongoing building renovations.
The closure order was issued on August 29 to the popular local business operated by Mr Wali Rahman Safi of Saif Rehman Limited, trading as Prime Pizza and Kebab at 281 Hyde Road, Limerick City, following an inspection which unearthed a large number of breaches of food and hygiene regulations.
It is understood that the fast food restaurant has since re-opened.
Inspectors found a bad smell emanating from a waste pipe in an area where food was being prepared, reports said.
According to the inspector’s report there were “foodstuffs being prepared in an area where construction and renovation is ongoing. Dirt and debris noted throughout the premises.”
Inspectors also found “unfinished surfaces noted in the food production area”, adding that “wall/floor junctions are dirty with ingrained dirt.”
They added that cleaning materials were “inadequately stored on site” and that the fridge unit was “stained”.
“Handles of equipment were greasy to touch. Unfinished floor surface. Walls are stained. Large accumulation of waste in the rear yard. Potato peeling and chipping unit located in temporary lean-to unit in the yard surrounded by waste and building materials,” the inspector’s report continued.
A sink for staff to wash their hands in the main prep and production areas was “blocked off” while staff themselves were not wearing any protective clothing or head covering, the report read.
The report stated that “there was no evidence that food workers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity. There were no training records available. A lack of training and/or supervision can give rise to poor hygiene outcomes and lead to food safety being compromised.”
“There was no evidence on site of a good food safety culture as the food business operator was unaware of his legal obligations. The non-compliances above are evidence of this.”
The closure order was one of eight issued country-wide during the month of August.
