Irish consumers complained of finding a ladybird in a salad, a zip in black pudding and a sewing needle in a biscuit to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland last year.
It dealt with 2,126 complaints last year, seven per cent more than in 2009 and contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported, the authority said.
The contamination included live and dead insects, a tooth, a needle, safety pins, stones and a cotton bud.
"Specific incidents cited included a ladybird in a salad, a sewing needle in a biscuit, a bolt in a pizza, glass in bottled water and a zip in a black pudding," said the FSAI.
It said 43 per cent of the complaints were about unfit food, 21 per cent of suspected food poisoning, 19 per cent on hygiene standards, seven per cent on incorrect labelling and one per cent on incorrect advertising and nine per cent other complaints.
Describing the increase in complaints as a positive indication that consumers were becoming more vigilant, the authority said had also investigated complaints of a lack of hot water or soap in food premises and sightings of insects and rodents .