DUBLIN, Ireland: A restaurant in Dublin was shut down in January, partly because inspectors found a "bucket of brown liquid" that could not be identified.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) published its latest list of enforcement and closure orders, which included four restaurants across the country being ordered to close. Three of the closures were issued under European Union food safety regulations.

One of the restaurants closed was Chillers Restaurant & Lounge in Dublin. Inspectors reported finding a bucket filled with unknown brown liquid and white pipes under a sink in the bar area. They also noted that the floor under the microwave was badly damaged and could not be cleaned properly.

Other problems included grease buildup on ceiling tiles above a sink used to wash utensils and on ceiling tiles above a storage area for dirty staff uniforms, which was stored with dry food supplies.

Closure orders were also issued to the White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, Dublin, where the small ground-floor kitchen was closed due to signs of rodents.

Another order was issued to O'Connell's Foodstore in Bansha, County Tipperary, after inspectors found food past its "use by" date being offered for sale, including milk that had expired four days earlier.

The Shamrock Lodge in Finglas, Dublin, also received a closure order under the FSAI Act of 1998. Its kitchen was closed after inspectors found a serious leak that required several buckets on the floor, which the FSAI said posed an immediate risk to public health.

FSAI Chief Executive Greg Dempsey said food businesses must follow strict food safety systems. He noted that inspectors often find repeated hygiene problems and rodent infestations.

He stressed that keeping premises clean is not optional, but a basic legal duty, and businesses must ensure the food they serve is safe for customers.