Limerick restaurant ordered to close over 'unsafe' storage of 'high risk' food products

A CAFE and restaurant premises in west Limerick was ordered to close last month after multiple food safety concerns were identified when a HSE inspector visited the premises.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed a closure order was served on the proprietor of Little Neros at the Square, Abbeyfeale, following an inspection which was carried out at 3.30pm on April 21. 

The order, according to the FSAI website, remains in place.

A report from the HSE inspector, published this Thursday, states there was no hot water or electricity at the takeaway premises on the day of the inspection as a generator had "run out of fuel".

The report states that certain "high risk foods" were being stored at inappropriate and "unsafe temperatures" in breach of food safety regulations.

"The electricity was not working as a generator used to provide electricity to the premises had run out of fuel at the time of inspection. High risk food was 11°c. (Cooked Chicken) ( Garlic Mayonnaise),  12.1°c pepperoni was 14.1°c.  High Risk Food was stored at unsafe temperature," stated the inspector in their report.

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The absence of hot water while food was being prepared was also noted by the inspector.

"There was no hot water. Food was being prepared, there was no electricity into the premises and the boiler was not working," they wrote.

According to the FSAI, Little Neros was one of three premises across the country which were served with closure orders during April.