The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Advice Line saw the number of complaints about poor hygiene standards jump 14% in 2015.
The number of complaints about incorrect information on food labelling also increased compared to 2014, rising by 10%.
On the positive side, complaints about unfit food were down 12% while complaints about food poisoning fell 4%.
Overall, the Advice Line received 2,739 complaints in 2015, just a single complaint more than the previous year.
Many consumers reported food contaminated with foreign objects. Among these cases were: an animal tooth in jam, a worm in a chicken nugget, a sharp piece of glass in frozen peas, and a metal screw in a cake.
Regarding unfit food, complaints referred to the serving of undercooked food, mouldy bread being used to make sandwiches, and strange tastes coming from food.
The FSAI states that all complaints were followed up and investigated by enforcement officers.
The Advice Line also received 11,832 requests in 2015, with almost half of these coming from food businesses seeking guidance and information across a range of food related issues. Common areas of concern included labelling requirements, allergens and additives, and resources for food business start-ups.
Edel Smyth, Information Manager at FSAI, commented, "We continue to encourage anyone who has had a bad food safety experience to report the matter to the FSAI so that the issue can be dealt with."
Referring to the Advice Line as well as the FSAI website, she added, "We urge food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided to ensure they reach their food safety legal requirements."
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Brian Dermody
