More enforcement orders were issued to Irish food businesses last year than in any other year, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.

Enforcement orders, which include closure and improvement orders, are issued to food businesses which fail to maintain certain standards.

According to the FSAI, 143 enforcement orders were issued in 2013 compared to 109 in 2012 - a 31% increase. This was the highest number of orders issued in a one-year period.

The FSAI described the figures as ‘unacceptable' and warned all food businesses to ensure that they have ‘robust food safety management systems' in place, ‘or face the full rigours of the law'.

Of the 143 enforcement orders issued in 2013, 119 were closure orders. This compared with 91 in 2012.

Such orders are only issued to food businesses where it is deemed that there is, or is likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to public health.

"Every enforcement order is one too many and it is extremely disappointing that, yet again, we have seen a significant year-on-year increase in the number of orders needing to be served, making the 2013 figures the highest number of enforcements to date," commented FSAI chief executive, Prof Alan Reilly.

He said that last year's figure shows that some food businesses ‘continue to put their customers' health at risk by not complying with their legal obligations of food safety and hygiene'.

"There is absolutely no excuse for negligent food practices," he added.

Details of food businesses that are served with enforcement orders are published on the FSAI's website here