"Rodent droppings and gnawed foodstuffs" are among the reasons for 14 food business closure orders last month.

The takeaways, shops, and restaurants were served the orders in November by the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) for failing to comply with food safety and hygiene measures. Cockroach sightings, a lack of hand basins, and dead cockroaches in food preparation areas were also included in the list of breaches. The food businesses served orders were in Cork, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Dublin, Donegal, Leitrim, Clare, Louth, Galway, and Mayo. Dr. Pamela Byrne, chief executive for the FSAI, said that 14 offences in one month is "unacceptable." "All food businesses must ensure that they adhere to a high standard of food safety and hygiene at all times," she said. "It is also imperative that a proper pest control system is in place and that this is checked very regularly in order to avoid infestations of rodents and insects. "With the busy Christmas period upon us, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law." Eight closure orders served under the FSAI Act, 1998 were:

• The Blue Door (take-away), 59 John Street, Kilkenny
•  Delvin Mart (Closed area: Restaurant), Delvin, Westmeath
•  Teach Lisa Crèche (Closed area: Kitchen), Newtowncunningham, Donegal
•  O’Rourke’s (retailer), 32 Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8
•  Tesco Ireland Limited, Dublin Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim
•  O’Briens Gala, Tulla Road, Ennis, Clare
•  Everest Express Fish & Chips Takeaway, Tulla Road, Ennis, Clare
•  Rice Asian Cuisine (restaurant), 11 Bridge Street, Ardee, Louth

And five orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010:

• Galmere Fresh Foods Limited (Closed activity: Manufacturing of ready to eat products containing fresh basil, not subject to heat treatment, as an ingredient), Ballybrit Upper Industrial Estate, Monivea Road, Galway
•  Colours of India (restaurant), Unit 2 Hibernian Way, Mallow, Cork
•  Dawat Indian Restaurant, Main Street, Castlebar, Mayo
•  Original Curry House (take away), Main Street, Kiltimagh, Mayo
•  New World Thai and Chinese Take Away, 275 Glasnevin Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 11

One prohibition order was served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:

•  Galmere Fresh Foods Limited, Ballybrit Upper Industrial Estate, Monivea Road, Galway

And one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:

•  Cissie’s Farm Shop, Ardnawark, Barnesmore, Donegal Town, Donegal

The full list of breaches and details can be found here.