Food-related complaints in Ireland in 2024 increased from the year before to almost 5,000.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Advice Line handled 4,996 complaints from consumers, with 32 percent, or 1,597, relating to unfit food and 29 percent, or 1,449, to suspected food poisoning.
In 2023, there were 4,395 complaints. FSAI said the figures reflect an overall upwards trend in the past decade. Food poisoning rose from 23.3 percent of complaints in 2023.
Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows there were 3,984 Campylobacter infections in 2024, 22 Listeriosis cases, 391 Salmonellosis cases, and 799 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections.
From spiders to maggots
Complaints received by the FSAI are followed up and investigated by inspectors throughout the country.
Unfit food, which is not safe to eat, was the most frequently reported problem in 2024. This includes contamination with a foreign body. Commonly reported objects in food included plastic, insects/spiders, hairs, glass, metal and stones.
Examples of contamination include a dead spider in a loaf of brown bread; a pack of muesli full of maggots; a toothpick in a bag of chips; a metal pin in pre-packed prawns; a nail in a takeaway meal; a snail in a box of grapes; a live insect in a burrito bowl; and a piece of metal in a chocolate biscuit.
Other complaints cited undercooked meats; food served cold when it should be hot; and foods with “off” tastes or smells.
The third most frequent category related to poor hygiene standards with reports of rodents spotted in businesses; staff not wearing appropriate clothing; poor personal hygiene with staff openly coughing and sneezing; staff not washing hands and handling food and money with the same gloves; excessive flies and insects spotted; generally unclean premises; food not being stored correctly with refrigerators and freezers not cold enough; and food being stored in boxes on floors.
Increased awareness
The advice line also dealt with 169 labeling issues, 155 calls related to allergen information, and 81 about unregistered food businesses.
Greg Dempsey, FSAI chief executive, said it was important that complaints were made to the agency so any food safety issues can be addressed.
“People reporting inappropriate and unsafe food and practices is vitally important and is an essential component, supporting the work of the food inspectorate to ensure the highest standards and quality across the food chain,” he said.
“The year-on-year increase in complaints to the advice line reflects an increased awareness among consumers of the importance of food safety and also demonstrates their zero-tolerance approach when it comes to poor food safety and hygiene standards in food products and in food premises. Food businesses have a legal obligation to provide safe food and it is vital that food businesses ensure they adhere to the legislation at all times.”
In 2024, there were 3,600 queries to the advice line from people working in the industry, including caterers, food manufacturers, and retailers. Popular topics included how to start a food business; food labeling information; best practice in food businesses; and food safety training.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)