COMPLAINTS ABOUT food contaminated with insects, hair, pieces of skin, glass and rodent droppings were received by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last year.
In all, over a quarter of the 9,444 contacts made to the FSAI dealt with issues concerning food and food establishments, the authority said yesterday.
Some 1,981 consumers contacted them in relation to low hygiene standards, unfit food, inaccurate labelling information and suspected food poisoning.
A breakdown of these complaints showed 858 were about unfit food, 363 were on suspected food poisoning and a further 408 complained on hygiene standards.
There were 112 complaints on incorrect information on food labelling, 20 on incorrect advertising of food products and 220 complaints described as “other”.
“Records showed that contamination with foreign objects such as insects, hair, pieces of skin, glass and rodent droppings were the most common type of complaints concerning unfit food,” the report read. “Misleading labelling and out-of-date food remaining on sale were noted as the most regular grievances amongst consumers regarding labelling issues,” it continued.
“Complaints concerning poor hygiene standards often related to staff in food premises not washing their hands; touching their face and then handling food; and handling raw and cooked food with the same kitchen utensils,” the report said, adding all complaints were referred to environmental health officers for investigation.
Edel Conway, FSAI information manager, said the statistics reflected the power of consumer behaviour and action towards food products and food premises that did not meet adequate standards.
The advice line also deals with queries from the food industry, which accounted for 44 per cent of the calls. There was a 50 per cent change in 2009 from 2008 in the number of calls requesting information and guidance on how to set up a new food business, which could be an indication of the recent downturn in the economy.
The FSAI advice line, on lo-call 1890 33 66 77 or info@fsai.ie, operates from 9am to 5pm weekdays.